According to data issued by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, goods imported from the largest economy in the Middle East climbed by almost three times to Sh32.27 billion in March from Sh8.44 billion a month earlier on higher orders of fuel.
For the first time, Saudi Arabia surpassed China, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Kenya’s largest single import market, highlighting the importance of petroleum products in fueling the nation’s trade imbalance.
According to the KNBS statistics, the rise in Saudi Arabian imports in March was mostly caused by higher shipments of gas oil (diesel), the majority of which had previously come from the UAE.
