Understanding Tea

Kenya’s Thriving Tea Trade: Exports, Imports, and Tariffs

Kenya has solidified its position as a major player in the global tea trade, boasting impressive tea exports and a burgeoning domestic market. In 2018, Kenya ranked as the third-largest exporter of tea worldwide, with exports valued at $1.2 billion.

Tea Imports Exports

Kenya’s Tea Exports

Tea is the crown jewel of Kenya’s exports, reigning as the country’s top exported product in 2018. With a total export value of $1.2 billion, Kenya held its position as a formidable force in the global tea market. The primary destinations for Kenya’s tea exports included Pakistan, receiving tea worth $471 million, followed by Egypt at $170 million, the United Kingdom at $114 million, the United Arab Emirates at $68 million, and Russia at $49.8 million.

Emerging Export Markets

Kenya experienced notable growth in its tea exports between 2020 and 2021. The fastest-growing export markets for Kenyan tea during this period were Sudan, witnessing an impressive increase of $35.3 million, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a surge of $23.7 million, and Egypt with an uplift of $22 million. These emerging markets signify the expanding reach and popularity of Kenyan tea.

Where Does Kenya Export Its Tea (2021)

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaAngola34,334
AfricaBurkina Faso1,702,005
AfricaBotswana796
AfricaCote d’Ivoire3,215,539
AfricaCameroon96,042
AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo23,737,219
AfricaRepublic of the Congo99,910
AfricaDjibouti761,081
AfricaEgypt170,322,988
AfricaEritrea337,532
AfricaEthiopia35,042
AfricaGabon64,069
AfricaGhana997,588
AfricaGuinea67,561
AfricaGambia12,541
AfricaLiberia30,788
AfricaMorocco144,727
AfricaMali934,115
AfricaMozambique51
AfricaMauritius438,145
AfricaMalawi24,376
AfricaNiger159,681
AfricaNigeria8,003,968
AfricaRwanda9,540
AfricaSudan35,260,533
AfricaSenegal348,915
AfricaSomalia5,354,892
AfricaSouth Sudan1,014,250
AfricaEswatini131
AfricaSeychelles16
AfricaChad1,097,060
AfricaTogo253,669
AfricaTunisia70
AfricaTanzania680,607
AfricaUganda313,594
AfricaSouth Africa1,111,378
AfricaZambia221,644
AsiaAfghanistan5,155,500
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates67,979,595
AsiaArmenia119
AsiaAzerbaijan365,424
AsiaBangladesh238,746
AsiaBahrain25,663
AsiaChina6,156,426
AsiaCyprus22,995
AsiaHong Kong570,277
AsiaIndonesia5,317,739
AsiaIndia11,692,245
AsiaIran19,158,075
AsiaIraq197,500
AsiaIsrael121,733
AsiaJordan7,227,704
AsiaJapan8,496,316
AsiaKazakhstan32,338,031
AsiaKyrgyzstan1,034,314
AsiaSouth Korea9,167
AsiaKuwait17,331
AsiaLebanon55
AsiaSri Lanka3,329,853
AsiaMacau6,002
AsiaBurma28,912
AsiaMongolia19,174
AsiaMalaysia3,693,352
AsiaNepal26,471
AsiaOman2,545,898
AsiaPakistan470,666,798
AsiaQatar2,461,642
AsiaSaudi Arabia8,451,361
AsiaSingapore321,336
AsiaThailand3,602
AsiaTajikistan25,802
AsiaTurkmenistan87,455
AsiaTurkey4,778,551
AsiaUzbekistan3,957,685
AsiaVietnam44,282
AsiaChinese Taipei1,541,046
AsiaYemen42,460,694
EuropeAlbania6,555
EuropeAustria203,741
EuropeBelgium876,194
EuropeBulgaria35,658
EuropeBosnia and Herzegovina57
EuropeSwitzerland7,203,074
EuropeCzechia6,470
EuropeGermany3,563,990
EuropeDenmark10
EuropeSpain129,420
EuropeFinland106,187
EuropeFrance86,273
EuropeUnited Kingdom113,678,625
EuropeGreece9,724
EuropeCroatia1,121
EuropeIreland7,762,773
EuropeIceland1,243
EuropeItaly21,510
EuropeLithuania31,210
EuropeMoldova1,324
EuropeMalta24,684
EuropeMontenegro5,620
EuropeNetherlands5,339,040
EuropeNorway6,288
EuropePoland19,283,607
EuropePortugal327
EuropeRussia49,761,133
EuropeSerbia30,868
EuropeSlovakia25
EuropeSlovenia702
EuropeSweden100,623
EuropeUkraine4,842,786
North AmericaCanada2,531,202
North AmericaPanama61,425
North AmericaUnited States6,993,725
OceaniaAustralia45,083
OceaniaNew Zealand395,305
South AmericaArgentina87
South AmericaBrazil13,907
South AmericaChile5,295,722
South AmericaColombia44,825
South AmericaPeru910,140

Tea Imports into Kenya

In 2021, Kenya imported tea valued at $17.9 million, securing its position as the 71st largest importer of tea globally. Tea ranked as the 205th most imported product in Kenya during the same year. Kenya primarily sourced tea imports from neighboring countries, with Uganda leading the pack at $5.49 million, followed by Tanzania at $4.46 million, Rwanda at $4.39 million, India at $2.22 million, and Burundi at $357,000.

Emerging Import Markets

Kenya’s tea imports experienced significant growth between 2020 and 2021. The fastest-growing import markets for tea in Kenya during this period were Tanzania, showcasing an impressive increase of $1.57 million, followed by India with a notable growth of $980,000, and Iran with a rise of $326,000. These figures reflect the evolving patterns of tea consumption and trade dynamics in Kenya.

Tariffs on Tea

In 2018, Kenya had an average tariff rate of 24.4% on tea imports. The countries with the highest import tariffs for tea in Kenya were Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, and the Central African Republic, all imposing a Most Favored Nation duty rate treatment of 25%. These tariff rates impact the tea trade landscape in Kenya and influence the flow of tea imports into the country.

Where Does Kenya Import Its Tea From (2021)

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaBurundi357,459
AfricaCote d’Ivoire34
AfricaEgypt1
AfricaEthiopia67,076
AfricaMorocco1
AfricaMadagascar24,705
AfricaMozambique49,354
AfricaMalawi12,301
AfricaNigeria364
AfricaRwanda4,392,376
AfricaSudan30
AfricaTanzania4,456,617
AfricaUganda5,488,427
AfricaSouth Africa2,175
AfricaZambia23
AfricaZimbabwe16
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates13,355
AsiaChina37,272
AsiaHong Kong119
AsiaIndonesia135,668
AsiaIndia2,216,359
AsiaIran326,343
AsiaJapan338
AsiaKazakhstan29
AsiaSouth Korea206
AsiaSri Lanka9,3251
AsiaMalaysia95
AsiaPakistan59
AsiaPhilippines19
AsiaSaudi Arabia10
AsiaThailand9,504
AsiaTurkey742
AsiaVietnam139,376
AsiaChinese Taipei163
EuropeBelgium2,327
EuropeSwitzerland66
EuropeGermany1,913
EuropeEstonia6
EuropeFinland3
EuropeUnited Kingdom31,508
EuropeGreece60
EuropeCroatia1
EuropeItaly50
EuropeNetherlands174
North AmericaCanada79
North AmericaUnited States2,690
OceaniaAustralia179
South AmericaArgentina109

Vietnam Tea: A Popular and Reliable Choice for Kenya’s Imports

Vietnam tea has consistently been a popular and trustworthy choice for Kenya, thanks to its premium quality and competitive pricing. In 2021, Kenya imported tea from Vietnam with a total value of $139,376, marking a 4.8% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam holds a significant position as an important supplier of tea to Kenya, catering to its tea requirements effectively.

Conclusion

Kenya’s tea trade continues to thrive, bolstered by its position as a prominent exporter and emerging importer. With impressive tea exports to countries like Pakistan, Egypt, and the United Kingdom, Kenya maintains its global standing. Additionally, the growth in emerging markets such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Egypt further signifies Kenya’s expanding tea industry. As Kenya imports tea primarily from neighboring nations, including Uganda and Tanzania, it actively contributes to regional trade dynamics. Understanding the tariff landscape is crucial, as countries like Angola and Benin enforce higher import tariffs on tea. As Kenya’s tea trade evolves, monitoring these trends and tariffs will be essential for continued growth and success in the global tea market.

Data: BACI

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