Kenyan tea prices jumped to a new record high at this week's auction on renewed demand, brokers said on Wednesday. The average price for Best BP1s leapt to $5.02 per kg from last week's record of $4.47 per kg and another high of $4.31 per kg at the previous sale. "Brighter BP1's met very strong competition and gained $0.34 to $0.66," a regular market report by the Africa Tea Brokers said.
Tea prices in the world's biggest exporter of black tea have hit record highs this year as buyers stock up over fears that drought in the country would affect production. Forecasts of better than average rains due to begin in October have failed to dampen prices at the Mombasa auction for the best teas, although prices for some lower quality grades fell.