By Jackson Okoth

Improved rainfall in tea growing areas has pushed up production of the crop.

 Latest figures from The Tea industry Performance Report 2013, shows that tea production in February was 38.5 million kilos, against 18.4 million kilos recorded during the corresponding month last year.

Output within the west of Rift increased from 9.4 million kilos recorded in February 2012 to 22.9 million Kilos. Production in the east of Rift was also higher from 8.9 million kilos to 15.5 million kilos. Similarly, good production was recorded across  sub-sectors. Tea output within smallholder sub-sector increased from 11.7 million kilos to 23.2 million kilos. Production within the plantation sub-sector rose from 6.6 million kilos to 15.2 million kilos.

Mombasa tea Auction

 Cumulative production for the first two months of the year was 83.8 million kilos against 54.6 million kilos recorded during the same period last year. 

During the month, 24.2 million kilos of tea was sold through   Auction against 20.8 million kilos recorded in February, last year. The average tea auction prices for Kenyan tea for February was $ 3.13 per kilo against $ 2.95 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 February was 42.9 million kilos compared to 44.7 million kilos recorded in the same period of last year. Lower export volume was largely attributed to fluctuating demand from the seasonal and lower end markets. During the month, Kenya tea was shipped to 36 export destinations compared to 40 destinations for the same period of last year. Among these markets, Egypt was the leading export destination, having imported 10.0 million kilos.

Tea shipments to Egypt from Kenya accounting for 23 per cent of the total export volume.

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

 The five export destinations accounted for 75 per cent of Kenya tea exports volume. Local tea consumption continued to register growth.