East Africa Regional Grain Trade Analysis for the Week Ending 11 August 2017

Figure 1 Uganda’s Exports to Kenya (Busia Border) effects of the 8th August 2017 Kenyan Elections

The Week’s Market Analysis

  • The Kenyan elections drastically affected the East Africa regional trade. A few days to the elections most traders from Busia were requesting buyers to provide transport for commodity headed for Nairobi, due to fears of election violence. Interestingly many Nairobi retailers recorded high sales, as many consumers opted to stock their homes with food items for fear of post-election violence.
  • Nyamakema, Nairobi’s major cereal market was also affected due to its location in Nairobi’s, River Road, which in the past has been a high security alert area with regard to election related violence. Most Kenyans choose to stay indoors as they waited for the announcement of the Presidential election results.  Many trader opted to close their shops which saw the price of most commodity remain at the same for the remainder of the week.
  • Shortage of GOK maize meal is now a thing of the past, the government subsidized maize meal is readily available in the market. The price of maize in Uganda (Busia) was at a very low Ksh26 ($0.25)/kg, making importation of maize from Southern Africa countries especially Zambia more competitive.
  • Nairobi continues to experience a shortage of the imported long grain rice, which has seen most consumers opting for Thailand imported rice.

 

The Week’s Market Opportunities:

  • Betta Grains has received requests to source for the following products for our clients; Simsim,
    Table 1 East Africa Region Select Market Price Comparisons. Abbe:-BI- Burundi, KY-Kenya, RW-Rwanda, TZ- Tanzania, UG-Uganda, SS – South Sudan. US$1=Ksh103.85

    Pure Red Sorghum, Chick Peas, Lentils (Kamande), and Millet (red).

  • Betta Grains is looking for buyers of the following products for our clients; Yellow Beans (Uganda and Rwanda), Mixed Beans (Rwanda), Groundnuts (Malawi, Zambia, South Sudan), Sugar Beans, and Iron Beans (Uganda), Maize (Uganda, Zambia, Malawi), Green grams Nylon/Polish (Kenya), Green grams (Uganda), and Sorghum (South Sudan), and Green grams Uncle/Makueni (Kenya).

Author; Fostina Mani, Betta Grains. Fostina.Mani@bettagrains.com, Twitter: @FostinaMani.

Acknowledgment:  The data used for the analysis has been obtained from; IAM, Government of Kenya, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries, Government of Tanzania, Ministry of Trade and Industry, EAGC, RATIN, Farm Gain Uganda, FEWS NET,  & Betta Grains. 

 Disclaimer. Due to unavailable of data on various border points on formal cross-border trade flows and volumes in the public arena.  The volumes indicated above are mostly from the informal cross-border data that is available to the public.  The purpose of the analysis, is simply to provide an indication of the East Africa Regional Trade flow to SMEs, Smallholder Farmers, and Other Stakeholders in a manner and language that is applicable, simple, and makes sense. Those desiring to obtain actual trade volumes are advised to contact various internationally funded government projects that have been mandated to provide the regional trade data for public good.

©Betta Grains 2017