- Tea factories secured stronger auction returns as premium prices lifted earnings.
- East of the Rift teas continued attracting buyers seeking top-quality produce.
- Several smallholder factories stood out for both prices and auction volumes.
Tea factories managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) earned Ksh 1 billion after selling 2,656,230 kg of made tea through the Mombasa Tea Auction, compared to 2,712,903 kg last week.
In the weekly auction, the four East African countries sold 6,170,457 kg of made tea, with Kenya registering the highest volume of 5,154,008 kg from smallholder factories and independent producers.
Rwandan tea fetched the highest price of Ksh 421.83 ($3.27) per kg, followed by Kenya’s Ksh 310.89 ($2.41) per kg, Uganda’s Ksh 170.28 ($1.32) per kg and Burundi’s Ksh 208.98 ($1.62), the weekly report detailed.
The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) reported that Mununga factory achieved the highest price of Ksh 447 ($3.47) per kg, followed by Gacharage at Ksh 436 ($3.38) per kg, Gathuthi at Ksh 434.73 ($3.37) and Imenti at Ksh 434.73 ($3.37).
Others were Githongo at Ksh 424 ($3.29), Kimunye at Ksh 432 ($3.35), Ngere at Ksh 425 ($3.30) and Rukuriri at Ksh 425 ($3.30).
In the analysis, KTDA managed factories achieved better prices than the privately owned tea estates in Kiambu and the Western Region.
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The report detailed that the factories that offered the highest volumes at the auction were Kimunye at 77,760 kg, Mununga at 75,760 kg and Makomboki at 74,432 kg, all from Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties.
According to the EATTA report, Kapsinede Estate sold its produce at the lowest price of Ksh 180.60 ($1.40) per kg.
KTDA Holdings Chairman Enos Njeru appreciated the tea growers for their continued production of quality teas, which are absorbed in the local and international markets.
He said the auction report has positioned KTDA managed factories to achieve better prices compared to the plantations.
“The number of factories that achieved prices above Ksh 387 ($3.00) has been encouraging, following the production of quality tea,” said Njeru.
EATTA Managing Director George Omuga said buyers in the auction showed interest in premium tea sourced from the East of the Rift (Mt Kenya region) for its unique taste and aroma.
“The buyers follow the taste and thus need for the farmers to continue producing the best to satisfy the expanding international market,” said Omuga.
In the buyers category, Omuga stated there were 45 local and international buyers, where LAB International purchased 894,737 kg, Global Tea 819,106 kg, James Finlay 465,132 kg and KTDA Owned Chai Trading 447,258 kg, among other buyers.
By correspondent
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