The East African Community (EAC) has recorded notable and positive trade growth this year compared to the same period last year, 2024.
According to Data from the EAC Statistics Bulletin the total EAC trade increased by 28.4 per cent, rising from USD 29.7billion in Quarter two (Q2) of 2024 to USD 38.2billion in quarter2 (Q2) of 2025.
Speaking during the 47th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance, and Investment (SCTIFI) in Nairobi, Dr. Caroline Karugu, Principal Secretary for EAC and the Chairperson of the Coordination Committee, said the growth was largely driven by an increase in exports, which rose by 40.5 per cent to USD 18.6 billion, up from USD 13.2 billion a year earlier.
On the other hand, she added that imports increased by 18.8 percent; from USD 16.5 billion to USD 19.6 billion during the same period.
“Within the Community, the intra-EAC trade equally shows a positive growth, recording a 24.5 per cent growth in Q2 of 2025, rising to USD4.6 billion from USD3.7 billion in Q2 of 2024,” the PS added.
However, she noted that the share of the intra-EAC trade to the total trade remains low at 12.1 per cent during the period, and this, she noted, calls for deliberate measures to unlock the potential of intra-EAC trade.
“Of critical importance are those bottlenecks impacting on regional trade that continue to be encountered within the Community, especially the NTBs as well as discriminatory levies and charges. If these bottlenecks are addressed, it is possible for the Community to achieve a higher level of intra-EAC trade, above 50 per cent,” Dr. Karugu said.
She noted that the advancement of the Customs Union, trade in goods and services, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Tripartite FTA negotiations, and the strengthening of our industrial and investment frameworks are matters of critical importance and that discussions around them are strategic in shaping the trajectory of the region and ensuring a more integrated, competitive, and prosperous East African Community.
The PS confirmed that Kenya will be hosting the 4th Tripartite Summit in February 2026, adding that the summit presents immense opportunities, offering market access to a population of over 700 million and a combined GDP exceeding USD 1.4 trillion.
There is no doubt that the commencement of trade under the tripartite framework will generate significant positive impacts on our economies.
“Beyond market integration, it prioritizes infrastructure development to connect our economies and industrial development to strengthen productive capacity. These pillars firmly position the Tripartite as a cornerstone of Africa’s integration agenda and a vital pathway toward shared prosperity,” Dr. Karugu said.
Deputy Secretary General Customs and Trade Matters (CTMA) Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe said the daylong meeting is timely to evaluate the progress made since the last SCTIFI, align priority actions, and consolidate the regional agenda with a focus on promoting market access and competitiveness.
“The decisions you take here will directly shape the ability of the business community to trade more efficiently, exploit regional value chains, and ensure we take advantage of continental and global market opportunities,” she said.
Mutaawe commended partner states for stepping up bilateral and cross-border engagements to address non-tariff barriers (NTBs), adding that despite the efforts and the existing measures, the region has adopted, NTBs remain persistent and continue to hamper trade, stifle private-sector confidence, and impose unnecessary costs and thus, it is critical to examine the effectiveness of such measures.
She explained that there have been improvements in system enhancement to support the exchange of e-certificates of origin with non-EAC partners and regional economic communities, digitalization of the simplified trade regimes, increased collaboration between revenue authorities and other trade facilitation agencies, and closer engagement with the private sector.
Karugu said all these efforts have contributed to enhanced trade facilitation and reduction of border delays.
The Deputy Secretary General also confirmed that there will be a launch of the EAC Customs Bond by the Heads of State on 6th, December 2025 that will ease cash-flow burdens on traders, streamline transit, and facilitate smoother cross-border operations.
“The pilot phase has been successfully completed, and sensitization will intensify during rollout,” said Mutaawe.
The Tripartite Task Force brings together the EAC, COMESA, and SADC Secretariats. Kenya will be hosting the 4th Tripartite Summit scheduled for February 2026, a summit that will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate the tripartite agenda and operationalize trade among members that are ready, notably the EAC and South African Customs Union (SACU).
By Wangari Ndirangu
