The Mountain Journal
The Mombasa Tea Market auctioned 9.2 million kgs of tea offered by four East African countries, valued at Sh 2.6 billion.
In the weekly tea auction, Kenya tea producers offered 7.8 million kgs for Sh 2.3 billion as the 70 KTDA factories made Sh 1.6 billion after they sold 4.8 million kgs.
The auction report indicates that Uganda sold 925,402 kgs, Rwanda 494,316 kgs, and Burundi 12,360 kgs.
In the second week, the agriculture sector is faced with challenges ranging from delayed export of the produce to reduced tea auction prices, among others, following the Middle East Crisis.
The report outlined that 80.95 percent of the offers were sold compared to last week’s 77.82 percent reflecting an increase.
In the market analysis, 48 tea buyers participated, where Mununga tea factory earned Sh 43.7 million after the sale of 104,016 kgs, with a kilogramme traded at Sh420, followed by Gathuthi 106,872 kgs that netted Sh 31.2 million.
Others were Kimunye 85,881 kgs (Sh35million), Rukuriri 129,084 kgs ( Sh 52.1 million), Ngere 133,000 kgs ( Sh 50 million), Kanyenya ini 129, 091 kgs ( Sh 44.9 million) and Njunu 34,040 kgs (Sh 12.5 million).
KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru appreciated the stakeholders in the tea sector, including the growers, for the continued plucking of the recommended green leaf.
“ Despite the challenges that erupted after the Middle East crisis, including the low prices, the tea farmers have adhered to the recommendation by the agriculture extension officers to assist in achieving quality production,” said Njeru.
EATTA Managing Director George Omuga, in a report, outlined that factories that sold the highest volumes in the market were Makomboki 163,294 kgs, Michimikuru 159,471 kgs, Ndima 146,784 kgs, Ngere 133,000 kgs, Kanyenya ini 129, 091 kgs, Rukuriri 129,084 kgs, among others.
“In the buyers category, Global Tea bought 22,700 packages, followed by the KTDA-owned Chai Trading with 21,360 packages, James Finlay 13,200 packages, LAB International 11,500 packages, among others,” said the MD.
