Tea auction: 45 buyers grabs 2.7 million kgs

The Mountain Journal

Small holder farmers tea factories last week made Sh921.4 million after they auctioned 2.7 million kgs at the Mombasa Tea Auction.

In the tea market, factories in the east of the rift  through their brokers presented 1,830,330 kgs of the commodity, while those from west of the rift brought 954,864 kgs.

A report from the market reflected that 45 local and international tea buyers participated, as the LAB International Kenya led the pack bought 15,340 kgs.

Mununga tea factory emerged the leading in the delivering of 80,100 kgs that was bought at Sh34.9 million.

 The best 10 factories that earned impressive payment of Imenti Sh24.7 million for 58,348 kgs, Gathuthi Sh21.3 million for 51,272 kgs, Githingo  Sh14.1 million for 44,180 kgs, Makomboki Sh22.1 million for  69,520 kgs, Rukiriri Sh25.8 million for 62,520 kgs. 

KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru said the factories are in competition on production of quality produce targeting the expanding market. 

The factory directors, he said, have developed a standard tea quality requirement  as a way to address unsold teas, as it has been in the past.

“There is a standard requirement of production of quality green leaf being enforced by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) and Ministry of Agriculture. The requirement demand all the players within the tea value chain ensure quality to satisfy the local and international markets,” said Mr Njeru.

In the market others factories that performed better in sales are Ngere Sh28.8 million for 72,272 kgs, Gacharage Sh13.7 million for  34,096 kgs , Kimunye Sh27 million for 67,504 kgs, Kinoro Sh28.5 million for  70,756 kgs.

In the tea export,   Global Tea and Commodities  Kenya purchased 9,500kgs, Aditya Birla Global trading 8,180 kgs, James Finlays Mombasa 4,880kgs,  Mombasa coffee 2,700kgs among others.

Factories that delivered the lowest consignment are Boito 3,500 kgs, Letien 3,000 kgs, and Kapko 4,500 Kgs