Tea exports to increase after Kenya, Sudan resolve dispute

The three-year standoff between Kenya and Sudan over the shelf life of tea has been fully resolved paving the way for increased shipments to the northeastern African country.

Sudan had petitioned Kenya to reduce the shelf life of tea from three to two years, an issue that the Tea Board of Kenya says has been settled.

Tea export volumes to Sudan have not been optimum over the last three years after the Northeastern African country raised concerns about the long shelf life of Kenyan tea.

Sudan preferred that the shelf life of Kenyan tea exported there be reduced by a third to two years. A technical committee constituted by the two countries agreed to keep the shelf life of tea at three years, thereby settling the issue.

This resolution that was reached after three years has lifted up export volumes by 41% to 2 million kilos for last year, according to the Tea Board of Kenya.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions by Western countries are hurting tea imports from Kenya. This has forced Kenya to focus on new markets in West Africa for orthodox tea.

Plans are also underway to increase the acreage under speciality tea with a target of growing production to at least 4 million kilos annually in the short term.