Kenya’s fresh vegetable exports to the European Union (EU) halved in 2024 following the enforcement of stricter pesticide regulations, marking one of the sector’s sharpest declines in recent years.
According to the newly released 2025 Economic Survey, the country’s vegetable export volumes dropped by 54.7 percent, falling from 164,100 tonnes in 2023 to 74,300 tonnes in 2024. This drastic cut saw the value of exports tumble from Sh50.9 billion to Sh23.4 billion over the same period.
The report attributes the slump to interceptions by EU market authorities after produce was found to contain pesticide residues above permitted Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). “Further, EU notifications regarding Kenyan beans and peas in pods due to concerns about pesticide residue levels exceeding MRLs resulted in lower export volumes,” the report states.
This is the latest in a series of challenges facing Kenya’s fresh produce industry as overseas markets adopt tougher safety and quality standards.
Fruits offer a Ray of Hope
While vegetable exports struggled, fruit exports provided some relief for the sector. The value of exported fruits increased by 26.5 percent, rising from Sh32.4 billion in 2023 to Sh41 billion in 2024. Export volumes also climbed, moving from 188,100 tonnes to 225,400 tonnes.
Cut-Flowers Hit by FCM Regulations
Kenya’s cut flower industry, one of the country’s top foreign exchange earners, continued to face restrictions over concerns about the False Codling Moth (FCM), a quarantine pest native to sub-Saharan Africa. The EU, one of the biggest markets for Kenyan flowers, has maintained strict controls to prevent the pest’s introduction into its territories.
In 2024, the value of cut flower exports slipped to Sh72.1 billion from Sh73.5 billion the previous year. This is the second consecutive year the sector’s earnings have remained below Sh100 billion, a level last surpassed in 2022.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) has warned that frequent interceptions of Kenyan rose consignments over FCM concerns have led to stricter EU inspection regimes. Sampling rates at EU borders rose from 5% in 2020 to 25% by May 2024.
To manage this, Kenya has rolled out the Rose False Codling Moth System Approach (Rose FCMSA), a comprehensive protocol aligning local exporters with the EU’s new pest management requirements. “This protocol outlines comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, and control FCM at all stages of production, from pre- to post-harvest,” Kephis noted in a recent update.
Air Cargo Pressure and Freight Costs
The Economic Survey also highlights cargo restrictions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a contributing factor to the overall decline in horticultural export earnings, which dropped by Sh20.1 billion to Sh136.6 billion in 2024. Limited cargo space, especially for fruit exports, drove up freight costs throughout the year.
The tightening of EU regulations traces back to an April 2022 directive that set new residue limits for certain pesticides used on exported produce, affecting a broad range of products, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, and animal-origin goods. The Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) has since advised growers to either comply with the new MRLs or seek alternative pest management solutions.