National tea sales increased by 4 per cent in the first semester of this year, from US$32.9m (Rwf19.6b) in the first six months of 2010 to US$34.3m (Rwf20.4b) this year, according to official figures from  the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).

Total sales realised in first semester 2011 at national level amounts to 12,565, 944 million kilograms which generated Rwf20.4 billion with an average price of US$2.73 (Rwf1,627) per Kg.

Auction sales count for US$26.7m (Rwf15.9 billion) while direct sale total US$7.5m (Rwf4.4 billion) respectively, at average price of US$2.75 (Rwf1,625) per kilogram and US$2.67 (Rwf1,577) per kilogram.

The industry monitor, Ocir-Thé, which was incorporated in the NAEB attributed the good performance in semester one to good prices.

"The volumes realised this year, exceed the volume of revenue made in 2008, 2009, 2010 by US$9.5m (Rwf5.6b), US$9.1m (Rwf5.4b) and US$1.3m (Rwf803.5m) respectively, or 38.5 percent, 36.2 percent and 4 percent of volume of revenues realised this year,” Ocir-Thé stated in a report.

According to the report, green leaf production projections dropped by 14 percent to 55,043,243 million kilograms from the projected 64,315,909. The tea authority attributed the dip in production to heavy rain fall during the months of February and March this year.

As a result, made tea production in the first semester dipped by almost 100 percent from 13,391,754 million kilograms in the first six months of 2010 to 12,911,419 million kilograms the same period this year.

Last week at the Mombasa tea Auction, Rwanda sold 334,801.50 kilograms out of the offered 417,413.90 kilograms.

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