The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has leapfrogged Italy and the Netherlands as Kenya’s second-biggest fish export market after China, underlining the impact of surging interest in new trade and investment opportunities in Africa’s second-largest country by land mass.Kenyan investors have stepped up forays in the DRC, targeting key sectors including mining, trade, aviation, and banking, hoping to tap opportunities in the underdeveloped but high-potential market. Fresh market data shows that investors in Kenya’s fisheries have exploited the newfound ties with the DRC to drive exports, catapulting the country as their second-biggest export market after China. Data by the Kenya Fisheries Department (KeFS) shows that Kenya in 2024 exported 3,497 tonnes of fish and fish products to the DRC worth Sh774.89 million, shaking up the traditional ranking in export markets. The 2024 performance lifted the DRC past Italy (Sh645.11 million), Netherlands (Sh507.69 million) to become Kenya’s second most valuable outlet for fish and fish products after China (Sh1.86 billion).“The most exported fish and fish products were dried Alestes, Labeo, Tilapia, Nile perch, octopus, lobsters, crabs, and marine live ornamental fish,” the KeFS said.In 2023, DRC ranked as Kenya’s fourth-largest fish and fish products market with Sh416.08 million purchases, trailing China(Sh2.52 billion), Italy (Sh883.15 million), and the Netherlands(Sh461.41 million).Kenya mainly exports fish to the DRC via a transit route through Uganda, even though the cargo has, over the years, been rocked by intermittent seizures by authorities from Kampala. The DRC has a low production of fish after years of neglect and civil strife, leaving the country dependent on imports to meet demand despite its vast water resources. Poor production has, over the years, meant that the DRC’s annual average per capita fish consumption has hovered about 5.9 kilogrammes (Kg), which is very low compared to the continental average of approximately 9.4 kilogrammes. The DRC has become an attraction for Kenyan businesses, especially after it joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2022, stimulating new trade and investment opportunities. Several Kenyan corporates, including KCB Group, Equity Bank, and KCB, have invested in the DRC, capitalising on opportunities in the underdeveloped market.Overall, Kenya in 2024 exported 8,616.1 tonnes of fish and fishery products valued at Sh 5.876 billion. In 2023, Kenya exported 10,707 tonnes of fish and fish products worth Sh6.8 billion.“The main destination markets were in DR Congo, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Spain, and Portugal,” KeFS said.The higher exports came as the value of fish produced in Kenya jumped by 10.3 percent to Sh39.6 billion in 2024, defying a drop in output in the main Lake Victoria source. KeFS data showed that the country’s total fish output in 2024 stood at 168,424 tonnes worth Sh39.6 billion, marking a 4.4 percent increase in output compared to 161,307 tonnes worth Sh35.9 billion landed in 2023. “As has been the trend in the past, most of the production was from inland capture fisheries, amounting to 86,527 tonnes with an ex-vessel value of Sh. 14.5 billion. The fish production from marine and aquaculture was 48,474 tonnes and 33,423 tonnes worth Sh18.6 billion and Sh 9.9 billion, respectively,” KeFS said. Inland capture fisheries contributed 52 percent of Kenya’s total fish production, with the principal catches coming from Lake Victoria. The lake accounted for 67,575 tonnes, which was a four percent decline in catch compared to 70,313 tonnes netted the previous year.“This can be attributed to increased fishing pressure, fish-critical habitat destruction, and the prevalence of illegal unreported fishing activities,” KeFS said. (ICE NAIROBI)

Fonte notizia: Business Daily