Last Wednesday, a report released by the Kenya Tea Board in the capital Nairobi indicated that Kenya's tea exports increased by 19% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, rising from 131.1 million kilograms in the first quarter of 2025 to 155.8 million kilograms in the same period this year, driven by higher shipments to key markets.

The Kenya Tea Board attributed this growth to increased demand from both traditional and emerging markets.

The report stated, “There has been an increase in imports of Kenyan tea into traditional markets. Notably, Chad has emerged as a significant market with sustained growth in exports to this country.”

In total, Pakistan remained the largest export destination for Kenyan tea, with exports reaching 50.8 million kilograms in the first quarter of this year, up from 39.3 million kilograms in the same period last year.

Other major export markets included the United Kingdom, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

Kenya's total tea exports Rose from 450.33 million kilograms in 2025 to 522.92 million kilograms in 2025, while export revenues grew from $950 million in 2025 to approximately $1.4 billion in 2025.

Willie Mutai, CEO of the Kenya Tea Board, said, “This is the best financial performance on record for Kenya's tea sector in years.”

In addition to Tourism and horticulture, tea is one of Kenya's main sources of foreign exchange earnings. Currently, Kenya's top priority is to increase the value-added component of tea exports from 5% in 2025 to 50% by 2027.

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Author: Xinhua News Agency Nairobi Branch

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