Nairobi, October 10, 2008 - Kenya's weekly auction sold a total 219.7 million kg of black tea in the first nine months of this year, a 17 percent drop in sales compared with the same period last year, broker statistics showed on Friday.
The east African grower is a leading global exporter of black tea. Its Mombasa-based sale marketed 264.7 million kg in the first nine months of 2007.
A total 162.8 million kg, or 74 percent of the volumes offered in the first three quarters of 2008, originated in Kenya.
The auction markets tea from eight other African producers; Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lipton Limited, associated with tea producer Unilever, was the leading buyer at 47 million kg compared with 47.9 million in the first three quarters of 2007, the Africa Tea Brokers statistics showed.
It was followed by James Finlay Mombasa, subsidiary to another grower, at 22.6 million kg.
Kenya estimates production in 2008 will drop to 335 million kg following unfavourable weather. Last year, Kenya churned a record 369 million kg.