China remains largest trading partner for East African Community in Q2

Dar Es Salaam (ANTARA) - China remains the largest individual trading partner for the East African Community (EAC) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, as the region’s total trade rose by 37 per cent year-on-year to 52.3 billion USD, according to Xinhua news.

According to the EAC Quarterly Statistical Bulletin released on Wednesday (16/9), EAC exports to China nearly doubled, rising from 5.7 billion USD in Q2 2025 to 10.7 billion USD in Q2 2026. This increase was primarily driven by mineral commodities and other raw materials.

The bulletin also indicated that imports from China increased to 7.1 billion USD, up from 4.7 billion USD during the same period the previous year.

Overall, EAC exports increased by 41.3 per cent to 26.3 billion USD, while imports grew by 32.9 per cent to 26 billion USD.

The region recorded a trade surplus of 300 million USD, compared to a deficit of 945.3 million USD in the same quarter of 2025, the bulletin stated.

Intra-EAC exports increased by 33.2 per cent to 3.2 billion USD. However, its contribution to total exports declined from 12.8 per cent to 12.1 per cent.

Copper and precious metals accounted for 61.9 per cent of total exports, confirming the region’s continued reliance on mineral commodities, while coffee, tea, and spices remain the primary agricultural exports.

Meanwhile, the annual headline inflation rate across the EAC fell from 11.1 per cent in April to 7.8 per cent in June, while the broad money supply grew by 15.3 per cent (yoy) to 107.7 billion USD.