Kenyan tea production fell 7 percent in October from the same month a year earlier, despite a rise in output in the West of Rift region thanks to the onset of seasonal rains, the Tea Board of Kenya said on Monday. Kenya produced 32.7 million kgs of tea in October, down from 35.3 million in October 2008 and up from 27.4 million kgs in September this year.
The Tea Board left its 2009 output forecast unchanged at 325 million kgs, according to a statement. Prices for tea at Kenya's weekly Mombasa auction have surged this year on supply shortfalls, both in the east African country and other major tea producers in Asia. Kenya is the world's biggest exporter of black tea.
The Tea Board said Kenyan tea exports of 27.1 million kgs in October earned 6.05 billion shillings ($80.9 million), bringing cumulative sales in 2009 to 283.9 million kgs, or down 11 percent from the same period of 2008. Britain was the leading buyer of Kenyan tea during the month, followed by Pakistan and Egypt.