A Karatina University College worker picks tea at the institution’s farm in Mathira, Nyeri. Kenya’s total earnings from tea sales climbed four per cent to Sh127.1 billion compared to the previous year, buoyed by good prices and favourable foreign exchange rates. File
Kenya’s total earnings from tea sales climbed four per cent to Sh127.1 billion compared to the previous year, buoyed by good prices and favourable foreign exchange rates.
The industry regulator, Tea Board of Kenya, said in 2012 the country earned Sh112.2 billion from exports of the commodity and Sh14.90 billion from domestic sales.
“We were hopeful of improved performance right from the beginning because of high global prices and favourable exchange rates,” TBK managing director Sicily Kariuki, told a media briefing in Nairobi.
The average price of tea sold through weekly auction in Mombasa stood at $3.18 per kilo in 2012 compared to $2.99 the previous. This was the highest average price realised in the last five years.
Tea production volumes dipped in 2012 to 369 million kg compared to 377million kg the previously due to frost and delayed rains within the first quarter of the year.
“Compared to the last five years, production for 2012 was a continued decline from the record production of 399 million kg recorded in 2010.
However it was much higher that output recorded in 2008 and 2009 respectively during which similar weather conditions were experienced,” she said.
TBK said 22.7million kg of tea was consumed locally, up 13.6 per cent from 20million in 2011.
“Higher local consumption is a consequence of sustained promotion campaign by the Tea Board of Kenya, intense brand promotion by tea packers as well as intense sales by factories,” Mrs Kariuki said.
Kenya produces black tea which is popular with blenders worldwide.
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