Pakistan keeps spot as Kenya’s top tea market

Mary Wanjiru picks tea in Rwatheini, Nyeri. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NMG

By GERALD ANDAE
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Summary

• Tea Directorate data shows Pakistan bought 130 million kilogrammes of Kenyan tea between January and October.
• During the period, Egypt recorded a significant drop in both value and the volume of the tea that it imported.

Pakistan cemented its position as the top buyer of Kenyan tea in 10 months to October, taking up stocks worth Sh29 billion over the period.

The Tea Directorate data shows Pakistan bought 130 million kilogrammes of Kenyan tea between January and October, a marginal decline from the 132 million bought in 2019.

Pakistan has remained a major buyer of the Kenya’s beverage, taking up closer to 40 per cent of the total production.

“Pakistan was the leading destination for Kenyan tea in the review period,” says Tea Directorate in the report.

A total of 371 million kilogrammes was exported through the auction during the review period compared with 374 million in the previous year. About 49 countries imported the beverage compared to 42 in corresponding period last year.

During the period, Egypt recorded a significant drop in both value and the volume of the tea that it imported.

According to the regulator, Egypt shipped in 65 million kilos of the commodity, which was down 75 million in the previous period.

Buyers in the UK took up an additional 10 million kilos of tea compared to last year.

Other key destinations for Kenya tea exports were UAE (18.5 million kilos) Russia (17.6 million kilos), Sudan (16.3 million kilos), Yemen (10.9 million kilos), Saudi Arabia (6.2 million kilos), Switzerland (1.7 million kilos) and Afghanistan (3.9 million kilos).