Cassava market in Kenya

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the cassava market in Kenya experienced notable fluctuations, with the market volume declining from 954 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 845 thousand tonnes in 2019, then edging up to 887 thousand tonnes in 2020 before falling to 712 thousand tonnes in 2021. Early in the period, the government promoted cassava as a strategic crop for food security, though production faced challenges including limited access to clean planting materials.

A strong recovery followed, with market volume jumping to 1,087 thousand tonnes in 2022 and reaching 1,188 thousand tonnes in 2023. This growth was primarily driven by the establishment of a new cassava processing plant in Busia County in 2023, which boosted local processing capacity, and by reported demand that exceeded domestic production by 200%, incentivizing increased farmer output.

In 2024, new developments included the introduction of improved, disease-resistant cassava varieties aimed at raising yields and Kenya's implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, which set new rules for product packaging that may affect cassava-based goods moving forward.

Production cassava in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cassava, 2017-2020

World map of production of cassava, 2017-2020

In 2019, Kenya's cassava production experienced its largest decline of 10.6%. However, production rebounded in 2020 to 886.7 thousand tonnes, marking a controlled improvement of 4.9% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 12.3%, which translates to an annualized rate of 3.9%. The peak production was recorded in 2018 at 946.0 thousand tonnes, representing the largest increase of 19.8% during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cassava from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. In 2018, cassava exports from Kenya hit their minimum at 1 tonne, with the largest decline of 42.6% recorded that year. By 2019, exports surged to their maximum of 2 tonnes, showing the largest increase of 193.8%. This created a 2.9-fold variation between the peak in 2019 and the low in 2018. In 2020, export volumes dropped to 1 tonne, corresponding to a dramatic contraction of 31.7% compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the dominant destination for Kenya's cassava exports in kind, accounting for 72.8% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among a number of smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. In 2017, export values reached their lowest point. By 2019, they peaked at 6 thousand US dollars, marking the largest increase of 528.4% and creating a 37-fold fluctuation between the high of 2019 and the low of 2017. In 2020, cassava deliveries from Kenya amounted to 4 thousand US dollars, which is 34.1% less compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya's cassava exports in value terms were almost completely tied to the United Kingdom, whose share amounted to 95.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Imports cassava to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. In 2019, cross-border shipments of cassava to Kenya totalled 21 tonnes, constituting a sharp decrease of 99.7% over the past year and marking the lowest point. This followed a peak in 2018 at 7 560 tonnes, which saw the largest increase of 739.9%. The difference between these years was 360-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda concentrated almost all imports in kind of cassava to Kenya, with a share of 99.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. In 2019, Kenya's cassava imports tallied 1 thousand US dollars, amounting to a dramatic drop of 99.9% compared with 2018 and hitting the lowest point. This followed a maximum in 2018 at 1 468 thousand US dollars, which recorded the largest increase of 742.9%. The difference between these years was 1 225 times.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda effectively monopolised imports in value terms of cassava to Kenya, taking 99.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020