Nairobi, March 15 -- Kenya's earnings from goods exported to African countries exceeded expenditure on imports by a record Ksh164.04 billion ($1.22 billion) in 2023, provisional data shows, boosting the government's renewed push for integration of markets on the continent.

The value of goods sold to other countries in the continent amounted to Ksh431.89 billion ($3.22 billion) last year, a growth of 22.99 percent over Ksh351.16 billion ($2.62 billion) the year before.

The increased earnings came at a time when expenditure on imports remained largely flat, rising a measly 0.31 percent to Ksh267.86 billion ($2 billion), according to data collated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

The slimmest rise in the value of merchandise orders sin...