Kenya Tea Industry Performance Report - 2025 February

Tea production for the month of February 2025 was lower by 10.83 Million Kgs (13.49%) from 55.44 Million Kgs recorded during the same period of 2024 to 44.61 Million Kgs. It was also lower compared to 54.36 Million Kgs recorded in the month of January this year. Drop in production was occasioned by hot and dry weather conditions experienced throughout the month with the exception of isolated areas over the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Central and Highlands East of the Rift Valley which recorded minimal rainfall. Though February is usually the hottest month of the year, last year it was characterized by good weather conditions occasioned by El-nino phenomenon resulting in high tea production.

The effect of dry weather on tea production during the month of February this year was pronounced in both the East of Rift and West of Rift, consequent to which the tea output dropped by 21.23% in the East of Rift from 19.57 Million Kgs recorded in the month of February last year to 15.41 Million Kgs. Within the West of Rift, output dropped by

18.60% from 35.87 Million Kgs to 29.20 Million Kgs.

Owing to the effects of dry weather conditions, the smallholder Sub-sector under the Management of KTDA, which has a wider coverage in the East of Rift recorded a production decline of 24.12% (7.57 Million Kgs) from 31.38 Million Kgs during the corresponding month of 2024 to 23.81 Million Kgs. The Estates sub-sector recorded a decline of 18.68% from 11.94 Million Kgs to 9.71 Million Kgs.

The drop in production within the state-owned Nyayo Tea Zones and the Private/ Independent tea producers was relatively lower at 14.38% and 8.27%, respectively.