Kenyan exporters have preferential access to markets across Africa through the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They can also reach the European Union through the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement.
Yet access alone does not tell you where your products will perform best. In 2025, nearly a third of Kenya’s export earnings came from its seven EAC trading partners. For a business ready to move beyond the region, the real question is simple: which market offers the best fit for your product, under which trade agreement and with what customs requirements?
That comparison involves more than looking for the lowest duty rate. You also need to consider taxes, standards, permits, rules of origin, documentation and the likely landed cost. DHL’s free MyGTS platform brings these details together, helping Kenyan businesses compare potential markets before committing to a shipment.
Comparing export markets in MyGTS, step by step
You can use MyGTS with an existing DHL Express account login or create a new MyGTS account. The platform contains import and export information for more than 220 countries and territories, so you can compare markets in one place instead of searching through multiple customs websites.
1. Classify your product once
Start by finding your product’s Harmonized System (HS) code in MyGTS and saving it to the Product Catalog.
This gives every later comparison the same starting point. The HS code determines the relevant tariff line, which affects the duty rate, import requirements and product-specific rules of origin. If the classification is incorrect, the rest of the comparison may be inaccurate too.
Getting the HS code right is especially important when comparing several destinations. It ensures that you are comparing like with like, whether you are exporting Kenyan coffee to Germany, fresh produce to the Gulf or manufactured goods to another African market.
2. Shortlist markets across the EAC, COMESA, AfCFTA and EU
Kenya’s preferential access differs from one destination to another. A useful approach is to select at least one potential market under each relevant agreement and compare the lanes side by side.
Agreement | Where it applies for Kenya | What qualifying Kenyan goods may receive |
EAC Customs Union | Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda | Duty-free trade between member states, subject to the applicable rules and the common external tariff |
COMESA Free Trade Area | 16 participating COMESA countries, including Egypt, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius and Zimbabwe | Preferential or duty-free trade among participating states |
AfCFTA | AfCFTA State Parties trading under the agreement; for Kenya, this mainly creates additional opportunities outside the EAC and COMESA Free Trade Area | Tariffs phased down according to each country’s schedule; Kenya’s offer covers about 4,500 non-sensitive tariff lines over 10 years from 1 January 2021 |
EU-Kenya EPA | The 27 EU member states | Duty-free, quota-free access for qualifying goods, except arms, subject to the agreement and current legal developments |
For example, a food processor in Nairobi could compare Rwanda under the EAC, Zambia under COMESA, Ghana under the AfCFTA and Germany under the EU-Kenya EPA.
The agreements can overlap. Rwanda is part of both the EAC and COMESA, while not every COMESA member participates in the COMESA Free Trade Area. A buyer in Ethiopia, for example, may instead fall under the AfCFTA framework.
The EU lane also requires particular care. On 24 November 2025, the East African Court of Justice issued an interim order staying further implementation of the EU-Kenya EPA pending a final ruling. The Kenyan government has said that exporters’ access to the EU market continues. Since legal and policy developments can affect the treatment of a shipment, confirm the current position with DHL’s customs specialists or Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry before making a firm commitment to an EU buyer.
MyGTS draws on information from more than 200 free trade agreements and helps identify which agreement may apply to each lane. It is still important to verify the final position before shipping.
3. Run a Trade Lane Comparison
Once you have shortlisted destinations, use Trade Lane Comparison to place each market’s import and export requirements alongside its estimated landed cost.
This is where the numbers can change the conversation.
A trade agreement may reduce or remove customs duty, but it does not remove import VAT, product standards, permits, labelling requirements, inspections or documentation. Any of these requirements can add cost or delay, and some may prevent a shipment from clearing if they are not met.
A market that appears attractive because of its low duty rate may require more permits, testing or specialised labelling than another destination. Comparing the lanes side by side helps reveal the full cost of entering each market, not just the customs duty.
4. Confirm qualification and prepare the documents
Preferential access is not automatic. Your goods must meet the relevant agreement’s rules of origin, and you must provide the correct proof of origin.
MyGTS’s library of more than 5,000 import and export document templates can help you understand the paperwork required for a potential lane. Official certificates of origin must still be obtained from the appropriate issuing authority. For AfCFTA certificates of origin in Kenya, this is the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Each trade agreement has its own origin requirements and supporting documents. Before shipping, check the specific certificate or declaration required for the destination and product. Choosing the right Certificate of Origin can help Kenyan sellers avoid customs delays and keep shipments moving.
From market shortlist to first shipment
MyGTS helps you plan and compare export markets; it is not a booking platform. Once you have selected a destination, you can book the shipment through MyDHL+.
Your first consignment might be product samples for a distributor in Kigali, a trial order for a buyer in Accra or a trade-fair shipment to Frankfurt. Whatever the purpose, a smooth first delivery helps build confidence with a new customer.
DHL Express can move the shipment door to door, with customs expertise supporting the clearance process. The documents prepared during your market assessment can travel with the shipment, helping reduce avoidable questions and delays.
As orders become more regular and volumes grow, you can explore air, ocean or road freight solutions through DHL Global Forwarding.
Compare the lanes, then ship the one that wins
MyGTS helps you identify the market that makes the most sense for your product. A DHL Express business account helps turn that decision into a shipment, with one login providing access to both services.
With a DHL business account, your company can benefit from:
Preferential rates
Fast, reliable shipping
Customs expertise
Practical support for growing businesses
Ready to explore your next export market? Open a DHL business account and start with the destination your comparison has identified as the best fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya’s strongest export earners include tea, cut flowers, avocados, coffee and macadamia nuts. Regional trade is also significant: in 2025, countries in the East African Community (EAC) accounted for Sh351.2 billion of Kenya’s exports.
Yes. Simply select Kenya as the importing country, and MyGTS will help you understand the requirements, estimated duties and taxes before you purchase from an overseas supplier.
Start with a clear description of the goods, the correct HS code, a commercial invoice and any certificates required by the destination country. Once your documents are in order, you can book the shipment and arrange delivery.
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