This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
On October 17, 2019, tea prices at the Mombasa auction hit a six-month high, marking a significant increase in the tea sector's recovery from the dry weather that affected the country in the first quarter.
A market report by the East African Tea Traders Association (EATTA) revealed that the traded volume increased by over 500,000 tonnes, one of the largest jumps in quantity in recent months.
According to EATTA managing director Edward Mudibo, the average price increased to Sh233 when compared to last week's Sh225.
While the price was at Sh232 a kilo in a similar period last year, the current trend gives farmers hope of earning a good bonus at the end of this financial year.
Tea farmers affiliated to KTDA earned lower returns of Sh69.7 billion in 2018/2019 financial year, attributed to low international prices. This has led to an outcry over the recent payout, leaving farmers desperate.
Kenya, the leading exporter of tea, sold 95 percent of its tea in the global market, with the country exploring new markets and expanding existing ones such as China.
