Kenyan tea prices were mixed at Tuesday's auction, with Best Pekoes Ones (BP1s) easing on reduced competition among buyers, brokers said. The Mombasa-based Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) reported fairly good demand for the 86,760 packages on offer.
"Generally BP1s were down because of less competition from Sudan. Both Pakistan Packers and Egyptian Packers were operating at lower levels," an official at the ATB said. "Quality has improved...We will continue to improve until September, when the rains come."
Kenya's main tea growing areas are experiencing cold spells, which slow growth. Lower supply to factories is expected to boost the quality of tea manufactured.
According to auction figures released by the ATB, top and bottom prices for Best BP1s eased to $2.15-$2.65 per kg from $2.16-$2.69 at last Tuesday's sale.
The top price for Pekoe Fanning Ones (PF1s) firmed to $3.00 per kg from $2.92 last week. The bottom price eased marginally to $2.35 from $2.36 previously. Of the 86,760 packages offered, 7,571 were unsold.