Sean Ngirici/The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
The Mombasa tea auction was a hive of activities this week as the buyers bought 9,239,610 kgs of tea that the brokers brought into the market.
At the auction, Kenya traded 7,539,334 kgs, Uganda 1,000,040kgs, Rwanda 550,466 kgs, Malawi 90,040 kgs, and Burundi 59,192 kgs.
Report from the East Africa Tea Brokers Limited indicated that in the auction conducted on June 23 and June 24, reflected an increase compared to the last week the auction sold 8,012,654kgs.
The buyers, Mitchell Cotts bought 14,520 kgs, Global Tea 12,780kgs, LAB International 12,000kgs,James Finlay 8,460kgs, Mombasa Coffee 8,300kgs, Chai Trading 8,079kgs.
In the market, the 70 KTDA factories earned Sh900,517,200 for the auction of the 3,752,155 Kgs compared to Sh902 million payment received in the last week’s market after the sale of 3,667,339kgs.
In the market farmers that got a premium price were Imenti sold 30,636kgs earning Sh10,109,880, Mununga 105,061 kgs for Sh34,039,764 , Rukuriri 75,752kgs for Sh23,710,376 , Gathuthi 96,016kgs Sh 29,860,976.
Others were Kathangariri 39,916kgs for Sh12,174,380, Ngere 117,210 kgs for Sh34,928,580 , Mungania 120,119kgs for Sh35,314,986 , Gacharage 68,314kgs earned Sh20,016,002, Njunu 52,400kgs for Sh15,143,600 among others.
Momul factory continued to take the lead in the west of the rift as it sold 77,770kgs each at Sh238, while Kobel auctioned 124,792kgs and the highest volume.
The report further outlines Kaptumo factory in the west of rift achieved the lowest price of Sh158 per kilogramme as it auctioned 12,412kgs, followed by Mogogosiek that sold 58,868kgs for each Sh159.
KTDA Zone six Board Member Enos Njeru said Rukuriri, and Kathangari from Embu appeared in the top five list, a testimony the farmers were producing the best quality of the market.
“ Although the prices are low the growers are determined to achieve the best as we call on the government to assist in exploration for the market,” said Njeru.
Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai assured the growers that the tea market was stable, advising them to stop worrying over the fluctuating prices in the market.
