Stanbic Bank Kenya supported Kenyan exporters at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai as part of a delegation of 20 African businesses. The delegation was organised by Standard Bank Group, of which Stanbic is a member. The trade fair, where overseas businesses meet buyers for the Chinese market, ran from 5th to 10th November 2026.
In its announcement on 10th November, Stanbic said its support includes introductions to potential customers and help with financing and completing exports. For producers seeking buyers beyond their existing markets, these services can help them get from a first meeting to being paid for a shipment.
The 20-business delegation brought together exporters from seven countries: Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. Across the delegation, products included coffee, cocoa, tea, wine, avocados, grains, cashews and sesame. Stanbic’s release does not identify the Kenyan participants, give their number within the group, or announce orders secured by them at the 2026 event.
How Stanbic supports exporters
Last year, we covered its Kenya-China trade platform and yuan payment services, including financing and support with logistics and negotiations. The yuan, also called the renminbi, is China’s currency.
Through the group’s Africa-China Trade Solutions programme, businesses can get introductions to buyers and advice on entering the market, alongside foreign exchange services and trade finance to fund cross-border transactions. Standard Bank’s partner, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is a Chinese commercial bank whose local banking relationships and market knowledge support the programme.
Stanbic’s Kenyan export service also includes help with regulations and receiving payments. That support extends beyond the exhibition itself, to the work of supplying a Chinese customer. The announcement does not set out participation charges, financing rates or a selection process for businesses seeking similar support.
In June, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a business membership organisation, met CIIE representatives, ICBC and Stanbic to discuss Kenyan participation and trade support.
We see a commercial opportunity for Stanbic here: exporters who find new customers could also bring more business to its financing, foreign exchange and payment services. KCB’s Biashara Club, for example, advertised a business trip for 10th to 21st October 2026, with visits to factories, suppliers and the Canton Fair. The trip focused on sourcing goods from China, while CIIE gives overseas exporters a venue to sell into China.
Lower tariffs still leave work for exporters
China had already extended zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries with diplomatic ties, including Kenya, from 1st May 2026. Removing import duties can make eligible goods cheaper when they reach China. Exporters still have to meet the requirements for their products.
For plant products, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Kenya’s plant health regulator, requires a phytosanitary certificate for exports where applicable. This document confirms that a consignment meets the importing country’s plant health requirements. For an exporter, arranging certification is part of the work alongside finding a buyer.
By Standard Bank’s count, it has supported more than 242 businesses through CIIE since it began participating in 2018, with more than 500 buyer engagements over that period. Both figures cover its wider African programme. Its historical examples include a Ugandan coffee exporter that secured three confirmed orders at CIIE in 2023 and a Mozambican macadamia exporter that shipped six containers to China in 2024.
Those earlier orders and shipments give exporters a reason to consider the programme. For this year’s delegation, the useful next measure is how many buyer introductions lead to paid shipments. Businesses considering China can weigh Stanbic’s buyer access and banking support against the full cost of supplying that market, including certification and logistics.
Join the discussion