Kenya sisal export earnings dip to five-year low on drought

By

Sylvia Kathoni

Nation Media Group

Kenya’s export earnings dipped to a five-year low in 2025, analysis shows. It was hurt by a biting drought across main producing areas, the strengthening of the dollar in key export markets, and human-wildlife conflicts that led to the destruction of sizeable volumes of the crop.

Kenya is among the world's biggest sisal producers and ranks third after Brazil and Tanzania. The sisal fibre produced in Kenya is mainly for export, with an estimated 96 percent of the produce shipped abroad.