Kenya has increasingly turned to India and Europe as alternative sources of fuel due to disruptions in the Middle East region. According to data from the Energy and Regulatory Authority (Epra), 25.26 percent of Kenya's Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel imports came from hubs in India and Europe in the year to June 2026. This shift was necessitated by the US-Israel war with Iran, which forced a change in logistics to avoid attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The G-to-G deal, signed in March 2023, allows Kenya to import fuel on a credit period of 180 days from suppliers such as Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Global Trading Ltd, and Emirates National Oil Company. Initially, supplies from these companies were mainly loaded from ports in the Arabian Gulf. However, the conflict led to a change in the logistics pattern, with Kenya sourcing fuel from alternative locations.
India emerged as a significant source of fuel for Kenya, accounting for 14.43 percent of the country's G-to-G fuel imports, or 1,137,173.34 cubic meters. Belgium and the Netherlands also contributed to Kenya's fuel imports, with 7.7 percent and 3.13 percent respectively. Petroleum products destined for Kenya were lifted from ports such as Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, Sikka in India, and Jizan on the coast of the Red Sea.
The Epra data shows that Kenya imported a total of 7,880,619.18 cubic meters of refined fuel for the local market in the year ended June 2026. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, Kenya's traditional major sources of refined fuel, accounted for 31.85 percent and 30.7 percent of the total fuel imported. Other sources of fuel for Kenya included Oman and Kuwait, which accounted for 9.26 percent and 2.98 percent respectively.
The conflict in the Middle East has had a significant impact on Kenya's fuel imports, with the Strait of Hormuz playing a critical role in the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas. The strait is a vital maritime choke-point that connects Gulf waters and the wider Indian Ocean. Nearly 25 percent of the oil and liquefied natural gas for use globally passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the East-West pipeline that Saudi Arabia relies on to export fuel has highlighted the risks posed by the conflict to fuel-importing economies like Kenya. In March, a ship loaded with petrol was unable to leave the port of Jebel Ali due to the attacks, forcing Kenya to import emergency stocks to avert a stockout.
Kenya's reliance on India, Belgium, and the Netherlands as alternative fuel hubs is likely to continue due to the ongoing conflict. The US and Iran agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in June, but the two resumed attacks on each other last month, leading to renewed concerns about the security of fuel supplies.
Key points
- Kenya sourced 25.26% of its fuel from India and Europe in the year to June 2026.
- The conflict in the Middle East has forced Kenya to seek alternative sources of fuel.
- The Strait of Hormuz plays a critical role in the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas.
