Global Tea Market Snapshot – Week 39

🇰🇪 Kenya – Good General Demand with Reduced Availability

This week’s Mombasa auction saw healthy demand, with 111,740 packages on offer, and only 13% unsold, compared to 21% previously. Auction prices edged up by 1 US cent to $2.05/kg.

• BP1 (EoR): Flavory types dearer; reprints neglected

• PF1 (EoR): Dearer rates for better types; others firm

• Dust Grades (PD/D1): Stronger demand across most grades, especially Egypt types

• Main Buyers: Pakistan, Yemen, UK, Egypt; selective demand from CIS, Russia, Sudan

• Weather: Widespread rains and cooler temperatures; crop intakes marginally increased

• Market Outlook: Supply nearing seasonal lows; strong demand continues for limited quality tea

🆕 Kenya Launches Orthodox Tea Auction

On 24 Sept, Kenya held its first-ever Orthodox Tea Auction in Mombasa:

• 2,925 packages offered (~108 tonnes); 70% sold

• Prices ranged from USc 260 to 452/kg

• 22 Orthodox producers now licensed, with plans to grow to 42 by 2027

• Government backs the move to diversify Kenya’s tea exports and value addition

🌍 Africa – Mixed Conditions

• Malawi: Selective demand; BP1s firm, others neglected

• Uganda: Steady demand at firm to dearer levels; mixed leaf quality

• Rwanda: Strong interest as seasonal peak quality observed

• Burundi: More availability; quality remains mixed

• Tanzania: No offerings this week

🌏 Asia – Fair to Good Demand with Regional Variations

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – Good Demand

• Orthodox leafy teas continued to gain, especially low grown OP1s and FBOPs

• Premium small leaf types mostly firm, but some price corrections seen

• Dust grades mixed; secondary dusts slightly easier

• Total auction volume: ~10.6 million kg

🇮🇳 India – Fair Demand

• North India: Good to fair demand; CTC leaf appreciated, orthodox mostly steady

• South India: Dust grades firm to dearer for liquoring teas, other grades irregular

• Convention News: India International Tea Convention called for sustainable growth

🇮🇩 Indonesia – Slow Demand

• Auction volume: 5,040 packages, 29% remained unsold

• Orthodox/CTC prices steady to easier; off-grades saw minimal interest

• Currency weakness continues to limit demand

📊 Market Insights & Figures

Region	Auction Volume (Week 39)	Production Jul '25	Cumulative Jan–Jul '25
Kenya	111,420 packages	42.4 Mn kg (-8%)	283.2 Mn kg (-12%)
Malawi	2,640 packages	1.5 Mn kg (+8%)	32.9 Mn kg (-5%)
Sri Lanka	10,590 packages	21.4 Mn kg (-7%)	156.3 Mn kg (+4%)
North India	191,250 + 166,598	151.4 Mn kg (+22%)	501.7 Mn kg (+17%)
South India	–	20.4 Mn kg (-10%)	137.3 Mn kg (+12%)