East African trade jumps 37% to $52.3bn, turning a deficit into a surplus
Exports rose 41% in the second quarter, sales to the rest of Africa grew faster than the total, and inflation across the region fell to 7.8% by June.
Arusha — Trade by East African Community countries grew 37% in the second quarter of 2026 to $52.3 billion, and the region swung from a trade deficit to a small surplus, according to the EAC's latest quarterly statistics bulletin.
The headline numbers (April to June 2026)
- Exports: up 41.3% to $26.3 billion
- Imports: up 32.9% to $26.0 billion
- Balance: a surplus of $0.3 billion, against a deficit of $945 million a year earlier
Selling to Africa
Exports to other African countries rose 44.3% to $7.2 billion, more than a quarter of the total. Sales to SADC countries grew 50.8% and to COMESA 48.3%. Trade between EAC members grew too: exports within the Community rose 33.2% to $3.2 billion, though their share of the total slipped slightly because sales outside the region grew faster.
China remained the biggest single market, with exports there nearly doubling to $10.7 billion, driven largely by minerals. Copper and precious metals made up 61.9% of all exports, a reminder of how much the region still relies on raw minerals; coffee, tea and spices remain important farm exports.
Prices calming
Annual inflation across the region fell from 11.1% in April to 7.8% in June, far below 22.7% a year earlier. Uganda (3.7%), Tanzania (4.0%) and Kenya (6.5%) had the lowest rates. Food inflation, at 10.1%, was well down from 37.5% a year before. Credit to farming rose 25.6% and to construction 22.9% over the year.
Source: East African Community, 16 September 2026.
