Infographics16 July 2026 - 20:01

Kenya's fertiliser imports ['000 tonnes]

Kenya’s fertiliser import bill more than doubled in 2026.

by Hillary Bett

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Kenya's fertiliser imports ['000 tonnes]/HILLARY BETT

Kenya’s fertiliser import bill more than doubled in 2026, soaring to Sh30.04 billion from Sh14.50 billion in 2025.

This massive rise in spending reflects a significant increase in the volume of fertiliser arriving at the nation's ports.

According to official data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), fertiliser imports jumped to 407.32 thousand tonnes in 2026, up sharply from the 234.92 thousand tonnes recorded the previous year.

This upward trajectory continues a steady recovery from 2024, when import volumes hit a low of 143.57 thousand tonnes.

While the 2026 import volume of 407.32 thousand tonnes represents a major rebound, it remains slightly below the peak recorded in 2023, when Kenya imported a record 425.68 thousand tonnes.

Historically, these volumes have shown extreme volatility over the last five years, starting from a low of 91.44 thousand tonnes in 2022 before fluctuating wildly to their current levels.