Kenyan traders fail to secure maize imports over rising prices

Traders have failed to secure maize imports from the overseas market on the back of high international prices that have made it difficult to ship in the produce at the government-restricted price of Sh4,200 for a 90-kilogramme bag. A tonne of maize at the international market has topped $420 (Sh54,978) a tonne, translating to Sh6,000 for a 90-kilo bag when it lands in the country, putting traders at a crossroads over importation given that they had signed an agreement with the government for produce to land in the country at Sh4,200. Read: Duty-free maize imports call attracts 250 traders Last week, a ship from Ukraine carrying maize docked at the Port of Mombasa, however, it was established the consignment was of yellow produce and not white. The Sh6,000 a bag is the same price that the maize is selling at in the country, meaning that the imports, which were to aid in lowering the current high cost of flour, will have no impact. Read: Farmers face losses as disease, armyworm ...