East Africa’s motor vehicle imports up by 24 per cent

By AGENCIES

Despite a tough business environment characterised by high inflation and a volatile exchange regime, car sales across East Africa experienced an upsurge, according to data obtained from the Kenya Ports Authority.

Data shows the region realised a motor vehicle entry upsurge of 24.1 per cent handled through the Port of Mombasa. At least 32,388 motor vehicles rolled off the ramp at the port between January and April compared to 26,090 units in the same period last year.

Gichiri Ndua, the Kenya Ports Authority managing director, said while releasing the first quarter results, the marked improvement has been a result of years of economic improvement assisted by a wider democratic space and the independence of South Sudan.

Total imports

Kenya imported a total of 14,700 units in 2012 indicating a 21.5 per cent growth.

According to Mr Gachiri, the number of vehicles imported by Kenyans was the highest across the Eastern Africa.

Uganda was ranked second importing 3,309 units in the 2012 first quarter indicating a percentage growth of 33.3 per cent. Political stability, especially in South Sudan and Rwanda also had a positive effect in the growth of the region’s car imports.

Rwanda’s GDP has rebounded with an average annual growth of 7 per cent since 2003 while inflation has been reduced to single digits, according to the country’s central bank.

Mr Gachiri said: “In terms of percentage growth South Sudan had accounted for the largest growth recorded in the period under review with a staggering 58.1 per cent increase. The country imported 2,307 units in 2012 up from 1,459 recorded in 2011.”