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| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
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Kenya's tea exports affected by drought : "Lanka retains top spot" by ELMO LEONARD Sri Lanka, the biggest exporter of tea in the world, is one of over 31 countries trading in tea in the global export arena, according to International Tea Committee statistics, contained in the Sri Lanka Tea Review 2001, put out by Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers Private Ltd. Sri Lanka has retained her place as the biggest exporter of tea from 1997, due to arch rival Kenya experiencing a spell of drought, running into years. Kenya was the largest exporter of tea in 1996, with 244 tonnes, against Sri Lanka's 233 tonnes. Kenya was in the lead in 1995 as well, with exports of 237.4 tonnes, while Sri Lanka shipped 235 tonnes. Kenya is a relative newcomer to tea production, and her tea bushes are cloned, which means the country has the capacity to produce an abundance of tea. Dry weather prevailing in the East African region had stalled Kenya's tea bushes from producing larger quantities of tea in the past few years. Last year, world tea exports amounted to 1.389 million tonnes. In 1992, global exports made up 1.015 million tonnes. Global tea exports have been climbing progressively, with 1999 exports amounting to 1.254 million tonnes, and 2000 recording 1.329 million tonnes. The main exporters of tea - India, Sri Lanka, China and Kenya - are not happy about the large number of countries which produce and export tea. The fear is that the equation of supply pegs down the demand factor. As early as the 1960s, when the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development Secretary General was Dr Gamani Corea, Sri Lanka took the lead in attempting to limit global tea production, so that producer countries could secure higher prices. Also, some of the newcomers such as Kenya, produces CTC (Cut Tear Curl) teas, which give five times more cups of tea per kilo, than the orthodox type of tea, which Sri Lanka largely produces. China, the home of tea, is also a large exporter, with exports of 249.6 tonnes in 2001, and 227.6 tonnes in 2000. However, China is not considered a competitor by Sri Lanka, because China largely produces green tea, while the other large exporters, including Sri Lanka, produce black tea. China is an unknown factor in global tea production, with most of the tea produced on the mainland, consumed by her people, for health reasons. Asia exported 911,709 tonnes of tea in 2001. Asian exporters comprised India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam. Total African teas in 2001, amounted to 401,093 tonnes. This comprised Brunei, 6,500 tonnes; Cameroon, 4,200 tonnes; Ethiopia, 2,000 tonnes; Kenya, 258,118 tonnes; Malawi, 41,261 tonnes; Mauritius, 41 tonnes; Mozambique, 700 tonnes; Rwanda, 11,000 tonnes; South Africa, 6,632 tonnes; Tanzania, 22,060 tonnes; Uganda, 30,437 tonnes; Zaire, 2,000 tonnes and Zimbabwe, 17,154 tonnes. All African countries are now into tea production. Among other tea exporters are Georgia, 11,500 tonnes; Argentina, 52,000 tonnes; Brazil, 4,082 tonnes; Ecuador, 1,300 tonnes; Peru, 100 tonnes; and Papua New Guinea, 5,600 tonnes. |
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