By Jackson Okoth

Less severe hot and dry weather conditions coupled with improved rainfall conditions in tea growing areas has combined to push up production of the crop in February, 2013.

Figures from a Tea industry Performance Report 2013, shows that Tea production for the month of February 2013 was 38.5 million Kg, against 18.4 million Kg recorded during the corresponding month of 2012.

Output within the West of Rift increased from 9.4 million Kg recorded in February 2012 to 22.9 million Kg. Production in the East of Rift was also higher from 8.9 million Kg to 15.5 million Kg. Similarly, good production was recorded across the sub-sectors, with tea output within Smallholder sub-sector increasing from 11.7 million Kg to 23.2 million Kg. Production within the plantation sub-sector rose from 6.6 million Kg to 15.2 million Kg.

Cumulative production for the first two months of the year 2013 was 83.8 million Kg against 54.6 million Kg recorded during the same period of 2012. In February 2013, 24.2 million kg of Kenyan tea was sold through Mombasa Auction against 20.8 million kg recorded in February 2012.

The average tea auction prices for Kenyan tea for the month of February 2013 was $ 3.13 per kg against $ 2.95 per kg for the corresponding period of last year.

Higher prices were due to improved demand by most markets in anticipation of supply shortfall in the first quarter owing to dry and hot weather conditions as well as winter season experienced across major black tea producing countries.

The total export volume for the month of February 2013 was 42.9 million kg compared to 44.7 million kg recorded same period of last year. Lower export volume was largely attributed to fluctuating demand from the seasonal and lower end markets.

Export

In February 2013, Kenya tea was shipped to 36 export destinations compared to 40 destinations for the same period of 2012 with Egypt being the leading export destination.

Egypt imported 10.0 million Kg translating to 23 per cent of the total export volume from Kenya.

Other key export destinations for Kenyan tea were Pakistan (10.0 million Kg), UK (6.4 million Kg), Afghanistan (3.3 million Kg), and UAE (2.2 million Kg).

The five export destinations accounted for 75per cent of Kenya tea export volume.

Local tea consumption continued to register growth with the volume of tea consumed in February 2013 amounting to 1.8 million Kg against 1.6 million Kg for the corresponding period of 2012.