The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed that the country’s tea export earnings increased by 18 percent in the first half of 2024 attributed to increased shipments to key markets.

In its economic report, the KNBS said earnings jumped to Kes 102.4 billion for the period ending in June, with the country exporting 320,563 metric tons of tea.

This marked a significant increase from the 674.9 million dollars earned from 270,287 metric tons during the same period in 2023.

Further, the report indicates that March recorded the highest shipments, with 59,599 metric tons exported, while June saw the lowest, with 42,894 metric tons. Kenya averaged earnings of 132 million dollars per month during the period.

In a recent report, the Kenya Tea Board attributed the rise in shipments to a recovery in key markets following the global economic slowdown caused by the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

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Kenya’s primary tea markets include Pakistan, Egypt, Britain, Russia and Saudi Arabia, with emerging markets such as Chad, South Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Morocco, Angola and Tajikistan also contributing to growth.

The country is further diversifying its market by expanding into China, where it recently opened a trade center to facilitate the distribution of Kenyan tea.