Nairobi, May 3 -- Kenya's exports to China collapsed to their lowest level in five years in 2025 as imports surged at double-digit rates, pushing the trade deficit with the Asian giant to an all-time high.

Fresh data collated by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that exports fell by 35.7 percent, the steepest rate in at least a decade, to Sh16.9 billion last year from Sh26.3 billion in 2024, reversing gains built over the previous three years.

In contrast, imports jumped by 16.5 percent to Sh671.2 billion from Sh576.1 billion, driven by strong demand for construction materials, industrial inputs and technology equipment, partly tied to expansion in infrastructure projects.

The combined effect saw Kenya's trade defici...