Tea Traders are now appealing to the Kenyan government to engage with the Sudan government with regards to the ban on Kenyan tea imports to Sudan which took effect on Friday the 14th of March 2025.
Speaking at a briefing at their Mombasa offices, East African Tea Traders Association (EATTA) called me on the government to engage the Sudan government to allow traders a one-month window to clear the teas already dispatched destined for Sudan.
According to EATTA CEO George Omuga, there are already 207 40-ft containers with teas destined for Sudan. Others are at the Port of Sudan with others on transit in the high seas.
“The Buyers have running contracts and have teas lying at Port Sudan. Several containers of tea already dispatched destined to Sudan are in the high seas and huge stocks bought for Sudan market are still in the warehouses in Mombasa which cannot be shipped out due to this ban. Most of these teas are already in value added form at various stages of shipment,” said EATTA CEO George Omuga.
The tea traders say the ban will result to unfathomable losses incurred by buyers and will trickle down to producers and farmers.
“The Kenyan tea Exporters for Sudan market will have severe cash flow and the teas already bought and shipped to Sudan will not be paid for by Sudan buyers,” said CEO Omuga.
According to EATTA, Sudan purchased specific grades of tea which are already committed and cannot be diverted in any other market destination.
“Kenyan tea producers will lose the Sudan market which is among the top five major market destination for Kenyan teas and this will compound the already existing market glut at the Mombasa auction,” said EATTA CEO.
The ban will negatively impact the tea auction prices and smallholder farmers returns.
Tea Traders have called on the government to engage their Sudan counterparts to allow buyers a one-month window to mitigate the losses brought about by the ban.
“We believe that the appeal we are making to the Kenyan government will not go unheard. We have already made contact with the concerned ministries,” said EATTA Chair Arthur Sewe.
