East Africa Regional Grain Trade Analysis for the Week Ending 4th November 2017

Figure 1 East Africa Regional Grain Trade Flow for the Week Ending 4th November 2017

The Week’s Market Analysis

  • There was an unusual increase in exports from Uganda to Kenya, Beans (6,568MT), Maize (2,568MT), and Millet (2,365MT). Total exports from Uganda to Kenya during the week was (11,827MT) in comparison to (3,133MT, 5,500MT, 2,599MT, 5,199MT) the previous 4 weeks. The increased export occurred after the announcement of the result of Kenya’s repeat election which occurred on 30th October 2017.

Figure 2 Effects of Kenya’s Repeat Presidential Elections on East Africa Region Commodity Trade.

  • The commodity trade flow from Uganda – Rwanda decreased as the trade flow from Uganda- Kenya increased. Rwanda and DRC are alternative trade destinations, whenever there are problems in Kenya.
  • Uganda exported increasingly large volumes of yellow beans to Tanzania during the week.
  • Rwanda has increasingly been exporting more commodity to DRC.

The Week’s Market Prices for Select Markets

Table 1- Market Prices for Select Markets in the East Africa Region for the Week Ending 4th November 2017

  • The price of mixed beans was highest in Kenya, Makueni, Ksh85($0.84)/kg this is because the region had poor rainfall last season. October being the beginning of the area’s planting season, the price of the previous harvest beans increased as most farmers were shopping for seeds inputs.  A majority of Kenyan farmers will pick seeds from the previous season’s stock, as many do not use certified seeds.
  • Masindi Uganda had the highest price of cowpeas Ksh135($1.30)/kg, while Soroti had low prices Ksh42($0.41)/kg. The prices in Kenya were generally high unfortunately most Kenya traders were unwilling to sell cowpeas for more than Ksh111($1.07)/kg, because most consumers are used to paying about Ksh58($0.56)/kg. Cowpeas tend to get weevil infestation much faster than beans, therefore most traders do not like holding on to cowpeas longer than necessary.  There were no reported cross border trade for cowpeas during the week.

The Week’s Market Opportunities

Betta Grains continues to receive various request to buy and sell grains and cereal.  Kindly visit our eDuka page https://www.bettagrains.com/?page_id=1236 for a more up to date list.

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