Browsing: Decrease in EAC trade

Intra trade in the East African Community has decreased to about 40 per cent due to COVID-19 pandemic measures.

“Intra trade volumes in the EAC have dropped to between 30 and 40 per cent in the past three months. This can be attributed to the restrictions imposed on the movement of cargo trucks from the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to Malaba, Busia, Mutukula, Rusumo and other border points within the community.” Said Kenneth Bagamuhunda, EAC Director-General, and Customs & Trade.

In 2018, Rwanda imported products worth $134.5 million from Kenya and $2 million from Tanzania while Kenya imported products worth $175.9 million from Tanzania and exported $293.5 million according to the International Trade Centre.

Covid-19 pandemic has seen the significant drop in imports since February due to a range of border measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus.

All EAC partner states have …