Kenya granted temporary clearance for stranded consignment amid ongoing Sudan trade ban 

KENYA – Kenyan tea exporters have received a temporary reprieve after Sudan allowed the clearance of a consignment of tea that had arrived before the imposition of a trade ban on March 11, 2025.  

The East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) confirmed that Sudan has granted permission for 207 containers, each carrying 400 bags of tea, to be cleared at Port Sudan after being held for over three months. 

EATTA managing director George Omuga described the development as a relief for exporters, but emphasized that the trade ban remains in force.  

“It is a relief after Kenya and Sudan allowed us to clear the consignment, but back home, we have stockpiles at the port of Mombasa and at different warehouses as we cannot sell the stock to the country due to the existing ban,” Omuga told Business Daily. 

The clearance applies exclusively to cargo that was already in transit before the ban took effect, with the window for clearance expected to last only a few days.  

Exporters have been incurring significant demurrage charges while the containers were docked at Port Sudan, adding financial pressure to an already strained sector. 

Sudan is a key market for Kenyan tea, particularly for specific grades that are not easily absorbed by other international markets.  

The ongoing ban has resulted in large volumes of unsold tea accumulating in Mombasa warehouses, as traders are unable to redirect Sudan-specific grades elsewhere. 

“Sudan primarily imports specific tea grades that are not easily absorbed by other markets. The Mombasa Tea Auction is ongoing, but without Sudanese special tea,” Omuga noted. 

Industry stakeholders have expressed concern about the broader impact of the ban, including declining tea prices, reduced auction sales, and increased warehouse costs. 

Kariuki Njenga, a tea dealer in Mombasa, warned that losing Sudan as a top five export destination would significantly harm Kenya’s tea industry. “Losing Sudan as a top five export market would deal a major blow to Kenya’s tea industry,” Njenga said. 

Tea industry players are urging the Kenyan government to engage with Sudanese authorities to find a lasting solution, as the ongoing ban threatens tea bonuses and incomes for smallholder farmers across the country. 

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