Kenya has earned Ksh 186.9 billion from tea exports owing to increased demand on the international market and additional markets.
Latest data by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) shows that export earning last year increased b 2.9pc from Ksh 181.7 billion the country earned in 2024.
During the period, TBK says export volume increased by 9.8pc or 58.3 million kilos from 594.5
million kilos recorded during the previous year to 652.8 million kilos on account of high volume of unsold stocks carried over from 2023 and 2024 due to CTC glut.
Speaking during the announcement of the data, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said despite the challenges that prevailed last year including stronger exchange rate, conflicts in some markets and weak growth of the global economy, the sector ramainde resilient.
“In 2025, the total marketed value of Kenyan tea reached Ksh 218.79 billion, an increase of 2pc from the marketed value of Ksh 215.21 billion recorded in 2024, and 11pc from Ksh 196.97 billion recorded in 2023,” said Kagwe.
Of the total marketed value, domestic sales accounted for Ksh 19.13 billion after growing by 6pc from Ksh 18 billion while committed stock rose by 22pc to Ksh 15.52 billion from Ksh 12.75 billion.
According to TBK, export prices and the exchange rate to the US dollar were less favourable to the earnings as the average export unit price was slightly lower at $2.21 per kilo compared to $2.27 per kilo in 2024.
Kagwe said the government is plotting additional interventions targeting the tea sector which is expected to increase farmer earnings under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“To achieve the BETA target aimed at increasing smallholder earnings from Ksh 59 in 2022 to Ksh 100 per kg by 2027 of Greenleaf,” he added.
Last year, Kenya tea export destination rose to 100 from 96 with Pakistan accounting for the largest share of exports at 36pc equivalent to 235.13 million kilos valued at Ksh 73.41 billion.
Despite the increase in earnings, total tea produced last year declined by 8pc to 550.37 million kilos from 598.5 million kilos in 2024 and 570.26 million kilos in 2023 on account of erratic and poorly distributed rainfall.
