The Kenyan export industry looks back on a - in many ways - difficult growing year in 2024. "In the spring, there was heavy rain and flooding, which severely affected many crops. At the beginning of the classic high season for pulses in October, November, and December, there was a lack of demand, so at some point, we were sitting on tons of marketable goods in the cold store. It was only in December that marketing picked up again to some extent," summarizes Stella Rasmussen, specialized importer and managing director of the company of the same name based in Meerbusch, Germany.
Another factor was the high air freight charges and limited storage space, Rasmussen continues. "We have noticed that there are more lucrative destinations for cargo flights, which has a corresponding effect on the availability of freight. The sea freight sector is also facing major challenges due to the problems on the Red Sea."
Insight into cultivation: Stella Rasmussen GmbH's main customers are primarily wholesalers and suppliers to the food retail industry throughout the EU.
Core demand for pulses
Stella Rasmussen has been importing and selling Kenyan products directly for six years now, mainly from her own cultivation. Snow peas, bush beans, sugar snap peas, and baby corn are the young company's core products. "Consumption and thus the marketing potential of Kenyan pulses continue to show an upward trend. We see a certain basic demand, especially for bush beans, which are of very good quality. What helps us, of course, is that, for a certain period, from around October to February, we are virtually unrivaled. We also have the advantage of being producers ourselves, which means we have the entire value chain under control. We not only have our own farms but also storage and packaging capacities."
View of the plantations on the Tanzanian border. In the background: Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tapping into new markets
After the disastrous year of 2024, Rasmussen is starting the new year with confidence. "We are now about to enter the peak season for bush beans and hope for good marketing conditions. Otherwise, I have set myself the goal of expanding my portfolio this year to include Kenyan herbs and chili. We already offer these products in smaller quantities, but we see a very high demand for both items, especially in certain European countries," she concludes.
Photo credit: Stella Rasmussen GmbH 
For more information:
Stella Rasmussen
Stella Rasmussen GmbH
D-40670 Meerbusch
Tel: +49 (0) 1746 342 466
Stella@stellarasmussen.com
www.stellarasmussen.com