Tea Market Report – Week 28

🇰🇪 Kenya – Good General Demand

Noor Mohamed – Mombasa

This week saw a slight decrease in total auction offerings (195,120 packages vs. 201,298 the previous week), but demand remained strong. Unsold volume dropped to 40%, showing improved absorption. The average auction price held steady at USD 1.95/kg.

• BP1s:

  • KTDA EoR: Flavory teas gained up to 50 cents; better types sold irregularly firm.

  • KTDA WoR: Met selective demand; poorer grades neglected.

  • Medium & Plainer BP1s: Generally firm to dearer, tracking quality.

• PF1s:

  • KTDA EoR: Firm demand at base prices.

  • KTDA WoR: Improved demand for blacker leaf; poorer types remained neglected.

  • Medium & Plainer PF1s: Strong demand, mostly firm to dearer.

• Dust Grades:

  • Best PD & D1 grades traded irregularly firm. Lower grades were steady, aligned with quality.

Active Markets:Kazakhstan, CIS states, Pakistan, Bazar, and Afghanistan were key buyers. UK, Yemen, and Egypt showed interest. Russia was more active, while local packers reduced buying. North Sudan remained absent.

Weather & Outlook:Good rainfall continued, supporting crops, though cooler temperatures impacted harvest in the East. Despite seasonal declines, auction volumes remain near 200K packages due to reprints. Sudan’s absence continues to affect overall sentiment.

🇲🇼 Malawi – Steady Demand

Maganga Maganga – Blantyre

Demand was stable but lower overall. Offgrades and D1s showed firmness where traded, while most PF1 grades were withdrawn due to high reserve prices.

• Crop Intake: Low due to cold weather.

• Weather: Mixed warm and cold days, cold nights, some useful rain.

• Outlook: Firm

🇷🇼 Rwanda – Strong Demand

BP1s and PF1s were in high demand, with prices firm to dearer. Availability expected to fall due to the ongoing dry season.

🇧🇮 Burundi – Poor Demand Despite Availability

Main grades faced negligible demand, attributed to poor quality and producer unwillingness to meet the market.

🇺🇬 Uganda – Improved Demand

Prices rose, and select marks showed improved quality. Crop intake stable.

🇹🇿 Tanzania – Reduced Supply, Steady Demand

Limited availability kept prices irregular but steady.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – Good Demand

Josiah Corea – Colombo

Auction volumes: 12.0M kgMarket firmed overall, especially for High Grown teas and Low Grown leafy.

• Ex-Estate:

  • BOPs: +10–15 USC

  • BOPFs: Mixed (Select Best eased, others gained)

  • Uva BOP/BOPF: +15–20 USC

• CTC:

  • Low Grown PF1s: Firm

  • BP1s: Mostly unsold or lower

  • High/Medium PF1s: +4–8 USC

• Leafy Orthodox:

  • Strong performance in Medium & Low Grown segments

  • Select OP1s +30 USC; OP/OPA +4–10 USC; FBOPs +20 USC

• Dusts & Offgrades:

  • All Dust categories firm to dearer

  • FGS, BMs, BPs maintained

🇮🇳 India – Fair to Good Demand

Deepa Anna Abraham – Coimbatore

• North India:

  • Good demand for Orthodox; some withdrawals in Assam CTCs.

  • Tippy teas well-absorbed; secondaries firm.

  • Fannings generally easier.

• South India:

  • Orthodox Dusts steady to easier.

  • Leaf CTCs saw selective demand, often lower.

  • AVT and major packers active; Middle East and CIS interest noted.

🇮🇩 Indonesia – Fair Demand

Emmanuel Varieras – Jakarta

Offered: 4,260 packagesUnsold: 12%Prices for Java and Sumatra Orthodox & CTC held steady.

Weather Alert:Despite it being the dry season, widespread flooding from unseasonal heavy rains is affecting tea production in West Java. Auction offerings remain low as many teas go to private sales.

📊 Market Statistics & Auction Volumes

Region	Packages (Wk 28)	Avg. Price (USD/kg)
Mombasa	195,120	1.95
Blantyre	3,760	—
Colombo	12,002	—
Kolkata	148,793	—
Guwahati	154,166	—
Jakarta	4,680	—

🌱 Production Data – Jan–May 2025 (vs. 2024)

Country	2025 (mn kg)	Change vs. 2024
Kenya	188.7	↓ 15%
Sri Lanka	87.9	↑ 10%
North India	133.4	↑ 20%
South India	69.7	↑ 13%
Malawi	29.3	↓ 6%