China imports increase as mega projects take off

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

Kenya’s imports from China jumped by 34.7 percent in the first five months of 2026, coinciding with the rollout and preparation of key infrastructure projects under President William Ruto’s administration.

China’s exports to Kenya climbed to Sh336.2 billion between January and May, from Sh249.5 billion in the same period last year, data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows, lifting its share of the import market to a record 25.3 percent.

China’s share has climbed steeply in three years from 16.6 percent in January-May 2023 to 19.1 percent in 2024 and 22.5 percent last year, before reaching the levels this year.

The increase this year outpaced growth in the overall import bill, which rose by 19.8 percent to Sh1.33 trillion from Sh1.11 trillion during the same period last year.

According to the KNBS, China accounted for Sh86.6 billion of the Sh220.3 billion rise in Kenya’s total import spending, representing nearly two-fifths of the additional imports in the review period.

The acceleration comes as Chinese contractors mobilise for road, railway and stadium projects, creating demand for machinery, steel, construction materials and other industrial inputs.

Kenya’s import basket from China has in recent years largely included flat-rolled iron and non-alloy steel products, other steel products, electronics and telecommunications equipment, printed circuits and phone and data transmission apparatus.

Crushing and grinding machinery also featured prominently, an analysis of KNBS data as captured by the Kenya Revenue Authority indicates, reflecting demand for equipment used in construction, manufacturing and other activities.

The jump came at a time major projects involving Chinese companies have either entered construction, reached mobilisation stages or are being prepared for implementation.

Among them is the Sh96 billion first phase of the Rironi-Mau Summit road, awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation in partnership with the National Social Security Fund.

The project is expected to require large quantities of construction equipment, steel and other industrial inputs. The contract was awarded in November last year, placing it among the major infrastructure projects coinciding with the latest acceleration in Chinese shipments into Kenya.

Another major project is the 475-kilometre standard gauge railway extension from Naivasha to Malaba, awarded to China Communications Construction Company and China Road and Bridge Corporation.

President Ruto and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni presided over the groundbreaking in March, signalling the start of preparations for the cross-border transport project.

The contractors were to undertake pre-construction mobilisation between April and June, immediately preceding the period Kenya recorded the latest surge in Chinese imports.

Chinese contractors are also racing to complete the Sh45 billion 60,000-seater Talanta stadium.

The stadium, being built under Chinese construction expertise, is expected to be completed in early 2027, adding another major project to the pipeline.

The projects come on top of other infrastructure works where Chinese companies have established a significant presence in Kenya’s roads, railways and construction sectors.

The growing infrastructure pipeline appears to have provided a fresh source of demand for Chinese machinery, construction materials, electrical gadgets and other manufactured inputs.

KNBS data show the trend of demand for Chinese machinery, construction materials, electrical equipment and other manufactured inputs was already visible last year, when imports from the world’s second largest economy increased by 16.5 percent to Sh671.2 billion from Sh576.1 billion in 2024.

The statistics agency attributed the 2025 increase partly to higher imports of industrial and construction-related goods, including crushing and grinding machines, iron and steel and chemical fertiliser.

“There were increased imports of crushing and grinding machines, chemical fertiliser, knitted or crocheted fabrics and containers for compressed or liquefied gas and iron and steel from China,” KNBS said in the report.

The figures suggest the momentum has strengthened this year, with Chinese imports growing more than twice as fast as they did during the comparable period last year.

This is after China’s shipments increased by Sh86.6 billion in the January-May period, compared with a Sh33.9 billion rise during the same period in 2025.

Reporting originally appeared via Business Daily. Read the full source for additional context.