| Maize Grain | 1005 (excl. seed: 1005.90) | Peak Jun–Aug & Nov–Jan; price rises Mar–May & Sept–Oct | Wholly obtained; Phytosanitary; aflatoxin ?10 ppb (Kenya stricter); moisture ?13.5%; fumigation at some borders | Kenya: KEBS aflatoxin test, AFA permits; Tanzania: TBS/TFDA; Uganda: UNBS; Rwanda: RBS moisture control; Burundi: basic plant health certs | On most STR lists (Busia, Malaba, Rusumo); value cap ~USD 2,000–2,500 | Invoice, ID, EAC CoO Form EAC1, phytosanitary cert, aflatoxin test, weighbridge ticket (bulk) | EAOPS organic; solar dryers, hermetic bags | Warehouse receipt finance; forward contracts; SACCO aggregation; digital agri-finance |
| Dry Beans (Common) | 0713.33 / 0713.35 | Harvest Jun–Aug & Nov–Jan; price dip post-harvest; rainfall sensitive | Wholly obtained; Phytosanitary; grading to EAS 56 (moisture ?13%) | Kenya: KEBS grading; Uganda: UNBS; Tanzania: TBS; Rwanda/Burundi: basic pest/moisture controls | On STR lists (Busia, Malaba, Mutukula, Rusumo) | Invoice, ID, CoO if prefs, phytosanitary, grade mark | Agroecological branding; low pesticide use; biofertilizers | Input credit with off-take; group bulking; mobile invoice discounting |
| Rice (Paddy/Milled) | Paddy 1006.10; Milled 1006.30/40 | Supply Jan–Apr & Jun–Aug; prices rise Sept–Dec | Milling confers origin; Phytosanitary; moisture ?14% | Tanzania: TFDA & TBS; Kenya: KEBS aflatoxin/labeling; Uganda: UNBS; Rwanda: RBS | Some retail packs listed; check border caps | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary, milling certificate, grade/label | Organic + eco water use; husk utilization | Asset finance for mills; WRS; buyer inventory loans |
| Avocado (Fresh) | 804.4 | Main Mar–Sept; off-season Oct–Jan (higher price) | Wholly obtained; Phytosanitary; MRL limits; fruit fly & seed weevil checks | Kenya: HCD permits, GlobalG.A.P; Tanzania: Plant Health clearance; Rwanda: phytosanitary | Rare due to value & cold chain needs | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary, packhouse QC, traceability ID | Organic/Fairtrade; drip irrigation; IPM | Exporter advances; factoring; packhouse credit |
| Bananas / Plantains (Matoke) | 0803.90 / 0803.10 | Year-round; price tied to fuel/transport | Wholly obtained; cleanliness & pest-free | Uganda: UNBS grading & weighbridge; Tanzania/Rwanda: quarantine; Kenya: basic inspection | Very common under STR (Rusumo, Gatuna, Malaba) | ID, invoice, CoO (if prefs), phytosanitary (often waived) | EAOPS organic; banana waste for eco-products | Micro-SACCO loans; pooled transport; mobile float credit |
| Sunflower Seed / Oil / Cake | Seed 1206; Oil 1512.11; Cake 2306.30 | Seed May–Aug; oil/cake price lift Sept–Dec | Seed wholly obtained; oil/cake origin if locally processed; SPS: pest & GM checks | Tanzania: TBS edible oil & fortification; Uganda: UNBS labeling; Kenya: KEBS KS EAS 769; Rwanda: RBS | Seeds/cake often listed; oil rarely | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary (seed), fortification/quality cert (oil) | Cold-press eco-friendly; traceable sourcing | Toll-crush contracts; WRS for oil; co-op pre-financing |
| Groundnuts (Peanuts) | 1202.10 / 1202.42/.49; Oil 1508 | Harvest May–Aug & Nov–Dec; premiums for aflatoxin-safe lots | Aflatoxin ?10ppb (Kenya ?5ppb); moisture ?8%; sampling/certification | Kenya: KEBS aflatoxin; Uganda/Tanzania: labs; Rwanda: stricter grading emerging | On STR lists (Busia, Rusumo, Namanga) | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary, aflatoxin cert, grade mark | Organic/aflatoxin-free premium; IPM systems | Quality-linked loans; WRS; NGO-backed premiums |
| Coffee (Green/Roasted) | 0901.11 / 0901.21 | Harvest Oct–Jan (UG/RW), Jun–Aug (TZ); prices tied to ICE & specialty grade | Wholly obtained; moisture ?12.5%, defect count, ICO bags | Uganda: UCDA license; Tanzania: TCB permit & TBS; Kenya: Coffee Directorate & KEBS; Rwanda: NAEB/RAB | Rare; small roasted packs only | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary (sometimes waived), cupping cert, weighbridge | Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance; climate-smart shade systems | Pre-export finance (LC); co-op revolving funds; price risk insurance |
| Tea (Black/Green) | 902 | Year-round; Mombasa Tea Auction price benchmark | Wholly obtained; pesticide MRLs; ISO 3720 | Kenya: Tea Board license & KEBS; Uganda: UTB/UNBS; Tanzania: Tea Board/TBS; Rwanda: NAEB | Rare; small retail packs | Invoice, CoO, auction docs, packaging & labeling | Organic, Rainforest Alliance, carbon-neutral tea | Factory advances; invoice discounting; ESG/green loans |
| Cashew Nuts | 0801.31 / 0801.32 | Harvest Sept–Dec; premiums for high outturn & kernel quality | Wholly obtained; moisture ?8%, aflatoxin check, pest-free | Tanzania: Cashew Board auctions & TBS; Kenya: KEPHIS phytosanitary; Uganda/Rwanda: basic grading | Limited; small lots may qualify | Invoice, CoO, phytosanitary, quality/outturn cert | Organic/fairtrade; shell waste valorization | Auction-backed prefinance; tolling loans; pre-shipment finance |
