Tea exports to the main markets in the year to October dropped 15 per cent compared with the same period last year: all the top buyers except Pakistan registered significant decrease.
Statistics from the Tea Directorate suggest that exports fell to 351 million kilogrammes (Kg) this year, from 441.9 Kg between January and October last year.
The September report by the directorate shows that total exports to the UK, Egypt and UAE dropped 12 per cent, 35 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
Egypt is the second largest importer of Kenyan tea followed by UK at position three. Pakistan has been the top importer for years.
“The total export volume for the period January-September 2017 was lower at 351.5 million Kg compared with 414.9 million Kg recorded the same period of last year,” says the directorate in the report.