The European Union's updated pesticide regulations have impacted Kenya's vegetable exports, reducing their value by half in 2024. The Economic Survey 2025 indicates a 54.7% decrease in fresh vegetable exports, from 164,100 tonnes in 2023 to 74,300 tonnes in 2024. The export value declined from approximately $340 million to $156 million.
This 2023 figure represented the highest export volume in the past five years. The survey attributes this decline to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) interceptions by destination markets. Additionally, Kenya exported less than US$700 million worth of cut flowers in the same year.
Source: The Standard