Kenya
↔
Somalia

Kenya-Somalia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $154.26M total volume •Kenya surplus: $154.26M

Kenya → Somalia

$154.26M

Exports (2023)

Somalia → Kenya

$0

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$154.26M

Surplus for Kenya

Total Trade

$154.26M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Kenya and Somalia. Green line shows exports from Kenya, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Kenya-Somalia commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Kenya → Somalia Exports

$154.26M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
29.0% top product
1Cigarettes: containing tobacco
$44.71M
29.0% of exports
2Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10
$27.04M
17.5% of exports
3Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, for uses n.e.c. in heading no. 1901
$10.67M
6.9% of exports
4Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$9.94M
6.4% of exports
5Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use
$5.63M
3.6% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Kenya's export portfolio to Somalia demonstrates strategic specialization, with cigarettes: containing tobacco representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Somalia → Kenya Imports

$0
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
Infinity% concentration
1Fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater
$72,360
Infinity% of imports
2Electrical apparatus: switches n.e.c. in heading no. 8536, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts
$62,799
Infinity% of imports
3Insulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships
$30,223
Infinity% of imports
4Fish: fresh or chilled, n.e.c. in heading 0302, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99
$27,599
Infinity% of imports
5Printing, copying, and facsimile machines: single-function printing, copying or facsimile machines, not capable of connecting to an automatic data processing machine or to a network
$26,889
Infinity% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Kenya's import pattern from Somalia reveals significant dependencyin fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Kenya demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcigarettes: containing tobacco to Somalia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $154.26M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Kenya-Somalia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $154.26 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Kenya maintains a surplus of $154.26 million
  • Export Focus: Kenya's primary exports include cigarettes: containing tobacco, food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10, food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, for uses n.e.c. in heading no. 1901
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Somalia include fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater, electrical apparatus: switches n.e.c. in heading no. 8536, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, insulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $154.26M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Kenya leveraging its comparative advantages in cigarettes: containing tobacco.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Kenya's specialization in cigarettes: containing tobaccocomplements Somalia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $154.26M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $154.26M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $154.26 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in cigarettes: containing tobacco and fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Kenya's trade surplus of $154.26 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in cigarettes: containing tobacco may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Kenya and Somalia represents a total trade volume of $154.26 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Kenya, with exports exceeding importsby $154.26 million.

Export Strengths

Kenya's exports to Somalia total $154.26 million, with competitive advantages in cigarettes: containing tobacco, representing $44.71M or29.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Somalia amount to $0.00, highlighting economic interdependence in fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater, with Fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater comprisingInfinity% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Kenya's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Kenya and Somalia in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023