Kenya Fish Exports 2026 Market Overview & Trends

Between 2020 and 2023, Kenya's fish export value increased significantly from $25.7 million to over $47.6 million. While the total quantity peaked in 2022 at 13.5 million units before dipping in 2023, the sustained export value suggests a shift toward higher-value products or improved global market pricing over the four-year period.

China stands as the leading destination for Kenyan fish exports in 2023, with an import value of $17.99 million. Other major partners include Italy ($6.3M) and the Netherlands ($3.2M), indicating that Kenya maintains a strong trade presence in both the Asian and European seafood markets.

Uganda is the fastest-growing emerging market for Kenya, showing a remarkable 178.5% growth rate in 2023. In contrast, traditional markets like Italy and Portugal saw negative growth, suggesting a strategic shift in trade flow toward regional African partners despite China maintaining high volume stability.

The top-performing product category is dried fish (HS 030551), which generated $17.5 million in 2023. Other significant contributors include frozen octopus ($5.4M) and fresh tilapia fillets ($4.7M), reflecting a diverse export portfolio that spans dried, frozen, and fresh seafood segments.