Tea exports hit Sh155Bn, growing by 21% in 10 months
Favourable weather conditions during the 10-month period saw tea production increase by seven percent, offering the country opportunity to serve key export markets Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Russia better.
A rise in demand in the global markets and strengthening shilling saw Kenya's earnings from tea exports increase by 20.8 percent between January and October 2024 to KES155 billion.
According to an update by the Tea Board of Kenya released on Wednesday this week, Kenya shipped a total of 500.8 million kilos of green leaf, reflecting an increase of 86.3 million kilos compared with the same period in 2023.
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In 2023, Kenya earned $1.09 billion from tea exports in the first ten months of the year. "The export earnings were higher on account of higher export volumes and a stable exchange rate," the TBK said.
During the period under review, the Kenyan Shilling steadily gained strength against major currencies, trading at an average of 129 units to the US dollar.
TBK projects that 2024 earnings from tea exports are set to cross the $1.39 billion, which was realised by the sector in 2023.
Favourable weather conditions during the 10-month period saw tea production increase by seven percent, offering the country opportunity to serve key export markets Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Russia better.
Tea trade centre in China
According to Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, the government is supporting tea production through the provision of subsidized fertilizer, establishment of common user facilities for value addition and the exploration of new markets.
Last year, Kenya opened a tea trade center in China's Fujian Province of China aiming to facilitate the distribution of green leaf exports in the Asian country.
"These measures and favourable weather and a stronger currency- the shilling has seen tea production increase from 445 million kilos in 2022 to 558 million kilos in 2023 and to 600 million kilos in 2024.
Export earnings rose from 138 billion shillings in 2022 to 181 billion shillings in 2023 and to 211 billion shillings in 2024," Prof Kindiki announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Kenya is expanding its market, especially in Asia, with the government recently opening a tea trade center in Fujian Province of China to facilitate distribution in the country
