Kenya's tea production in March jumped 87 percent on a year ago to 33.3 million kg due to favourable weather, according to national regulator, the Tea Board. Kenya, east Africa's largest economy, is the world's top exporter of black tea, which is a major source of foreign exchange, earning it 112 billion shillings ($1.33 billion) last year.
Tea exports last month also inched up to 36.1 million kg from 35.4 million kg in March 2012 on higher supply, the Tea Board said in a statement issued on Friday. "Higher production was largely attributed to scattered light rainfall conditions experienced in tea growing areas during the second half of the month owing to the gradual onset of the March-May 'long rainfall' season as opposed to severe hot and dry weather conditions experienced in March last year," Sicily Kariuki, the board's managing director said in a report.
Kariuki added that higher export volume was the main reason for an increase in exports. During the month 24.4 million of tea was sold through the country's weekly auction at the port of Mombasa, a rise from 19.1 million kg in the same period of 2012. The average tea auction price fell to $2.81 per kg from $3.03 in the same period a year ago.
"Marginal drop in prices was due to anticipation of supply increase owing to the onset of the 'long rainfall' season," Kariuki said. The country's top five export destinations in March, which account for 75 percent of Kenyan tea exports, were Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, UK and Sudan.
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