New Delhi: India has emerged as Kenya’s leading supplier of petroleum products, overtaking major Gulf exporters such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE amid disruptions to fuel supply routes caused by the US-Iran conflict.
According to commodity data cited by energy economist Anas Alhajji, India has replaced the UAE and Saudi Arabia as a key supplier of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil to Kenya.
The shift comes as disruptions in the Middle East have affected Kenya’s traditional fuel supply arrangements. The country had relied heavily on government-backed agreements involving Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC and the Emirates National Oil Company.
India’s growing role is linked to its substantial refining capacity. The country has 22 operational refineries with a combined annual capacity of 258.1 million tonnes, making it the world’s fourth-largest oil refiner.
India exported 61.5 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2025-26 despite importing more than 90% of its crude oil.
Petroleum exports to Africa have also surged, with India’s shipments to the continent reportedly rising 66% year-on-year in July. Kenya’s imports from India have grown alongside expanding bilateral trade.
India’s exports to Kenya increased by more than 151% in value in July 2026 compared with the same month last year, reflecting the growing importance of the African market for Indian products.