Bad Weather Cuts Kenya's Tea Production By 19%

Nairobi: Kenya's tea production declined by 18.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025 due to unfavorable weather conditions, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) said on Wednesday.

According to a report released by the TBK, the country produced 136.91 million kilograms of tea during the period, down from 168.76 million kilograms in the same period in 2024.

The board said the drop was largely attributed to extremely hot and dry conditions, coupled with a delayed onset of the long rain season, which typically runs from March to May.

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The TBK, which oversees tea marketing in Kenya, said it expects the unfavorable conditions to impact annual output.

"Going by the trend for the first quarter, production for the whole year is projected at 580 million kilograms, which will be lower compared to 594 million kilograms in 2024 but slightly higher than 570 million kilograms in 2023," the board said.

Kenya's tea-growing regions are primarily located in the central and Rift Valley areas, with the latter experiencing the most significant decline in output, according to the report.

A separate economic report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicated that revenue from tea exports fell by 20 percent in the first quarter, totaling 46.07 billion shillings (about 361 million US dollars).

Kenya remains the world's leading exporter of black tea. The crop is one of the country's top foreign exchange earners, alongside horticulture and tourism.

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