Rwandan tea outperformed Kenya’s at the Mombasa auction last year on the account of high quality that saw increased demand from buyers.

Data from Tea Directorate indicates a kilogramme of Rwandan tea on average fetched Rwf2,520.88 against Kenya’s Sh2,301.26 last year.

Rwanda, according to brokers at the auction, produces some of the best teas regionally, which attract a premium price from buyers at the auction.

"Rwandan tea normally fetches good price at the auction because of good quality that results from best agronomical practices that they have invested in,” said one of the tea brokers.

"To them (Rwanda) quality is more important than the volumes that they bring at the auction,” he added.

Over seven countries sell their tea through the weekly Mombasa auction, destined for international market. The auction is managed by the East African Tea Traders Association.

Earnings from Kenyan tea exports are projected to rise this year resulting from low volumes and high auction price.

The Tea directorate says the volume of the beverage will this year drop from a high of 450 million kilos that realised in 2018.

Tea prices have been on the decline in the last quarter of the year, with an average price in the last auction held last week remaining within a two-year low range.

The directorate had attributed a string of poor prices on Kenyan tea to increased volume in the market due to high production from farmers.

All Africa.