Nairobi, July 30 - Kenya's tea export earnings rose 17 percent in the first half of this year, boosted by firmer prices even though dry weather cut production, the Tea Board of Kenya said on Thursday.
The east African nation raked in 30.8 billion shillings ($401.4 million) in the first half of 2008, compared with 26.3 billion shillings in the same period last year.
First half production fell 11.5 percent to 139.2 million kilograms, from 157.3 million in H1 2008.
"The main reason is the weather pattern. We had a very prolonged drought, particularly in the first quarter," Sicily Kariuki, the board's managing director, told reporters.
The board said the average price of tea per kilogramme at the weekly auction in Mombasa rose to $2.42 in first half 2009 from $2.36 previously.
"Prices will remain firm for the immediate future," Kariuki said.
Kenya is the world's biggest exporter of black tea, and last year the leaf was the nation's second foreign currency earner.
The Tea Board reiterated its forecast that annual production in 2009 would be down 6 percent due to the dry weather, from last year's 345 million kilogrammes, though revenues would rise overall on the firmer prices to about 65 billion shillings.
Kenya sells tea to more than 30 countries. Leading importers are Egypt, Pakistan, Britain, Afghanistan and Sudan.
Officials have been courting new markets like Iran, Japan and the United States to cushion against any falls in demand from traditional importers.