The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed that the country's horticultural export earnings declined by 3.5 percent in the first half of 2024,  attributed to reduced shipments to European and Asian markets.

A report released in Nairobi, KNBS) said Kenya earned 86.8 billion shillings during this period, down from 697 million dollars in the same period in 2023.

Further, it revealed that Kenya exported 214,676 metric tonnes of cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables, a decrease from 291,118 metric tonnes in the same period in 2023 in the first six months of 2024.

The report also revealed that cut flowers generated the highest earnings from the exported produce, bringing in 403 million dollars, with Europe being the primary market.

Additionally, KNBS revealed that Kenya earned 144 million dollars from fruit exports, with the remaining revenue coming from vegetables.

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The decline in earnings for the first half of the year was partly attributed to a stronger Kenyan shilling, which made exports more expensive and reduced demand.

The Kenyan shilling has stabilized at 129 to the dollar since March, strengthening from over 140 in January.

The Netherlands and Britain remain Kenya’s largest horticulture markets in Europe, while China, India, and Kazakhstan are the top markets in Asia.