TEA from Kenya and Rwanda fetched the highest prices at this week’s Mombasa tea auction, which recorded an increase in volumes. Kenya however trailed its East African peer in average auction price where Rwanda’s tea posted the highest average price of $2.66 (Sh270.84) across nine grades, beating seven other countries who offered their tea for sale. Kenyan tea was second with an average price of $2.51 (Sh255.57) followed by Burundian tea which sealed the top three slot in terms of prices with $2.48 (Sh252.51).

Rwanda’s BP1 was the priciest with an average cost of $2.94 (Sh299.35) per kilo. Its PF1 sold at $2.75(Sh280) per kilo while PDust and Dust 1 sold at $2.64 (Sh268.81) and $ 2.81 (Sh286.12) a kilo respectively. Kenya’s BP1 sold at $2.81 (Sh286.12), PF1 was $2.59 (Sh263.71) while PDust and Dust1 cost $2.48 (Sh252.51) and $2.69 (Sh273.90) per kilo respectively. The overall auction average price remained at $2.39 (Sh243.35) for the second consecutive week after dropping from $2.42 (Sh246.41) per kilo two weeks ago. It however remains above the $2.29 (Sh233.17) recorded in a similar sale last year.

The East Africa Tea Trade Association attributed Rwanda’s favorable prices to its low quantities.“Their volumes at the auction are low by far compared to Kenya so they are expected to perform better,” managing director Edward Mudibo told the Star on phone. Total volume of tea traded this week increased to 8.05 million kilos from 7.2 million kilos last week. “Yemen, other Middle Eastern countries, Afghanistan, Sudan, Kazakhstan and other CIS states (Commonwealth of Independent States) showed strong support with more interest from Russia, Bazaar and Iran,” Mudibo said.

Source: The Star

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