Kenyan tea exporters face mounting losses as Middle East conflict disrupts shipments
Kenyan tea exports stall as Middle East conflict disrupts shipping routes, leaving millions of kilos stranded and raising concerns over market losses and supply chain delays.
KENYA – Kenyan tea exporters are facing mounting losses as tea valued at approximately US$23 million remains stranded at the Mombasa auction for the third consecutive week due to disruptions caused by the ongoing Israel/US-Iran conflict.
The crisis has been worsened by the closure of the Port of Salalah in the Arabian Sea, a key logistics hub linking Kenyan tea exports to major markets including Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and several European countries.
Industry stakeholders say the disruption is severely affecting export flows, particularly to the Middle East, which accounts for a significant share of Kenya’s tea exports. East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) Managing Director George Omuga said the sector is experiencing substantial weekly losses.
“Every week, the tea sector loses about 2–3 million kilos of tea meant for export to the Middle East,” Omuga told The EastAfrican.
He added that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further complicated logistics, with shipping vessels cancelling trips to Mombasa or taking longer alternative routes, resulting in significant delays.
“We export about 20–25 percent of our teas to the Middle East, and we have lost the market due to the ongoing conflict. Some 8–10 million kilos of tea worth more than Ksh3 billion (US$23.12 million) are held in warehouses and at the port of Mombasa since the conflict began,” Omuga said.
He also highlighted the impact of the disruption at Salalah. “The situation has been complicated further by the sudden closure of the Port of Salalah following an attack on March 11 after several drones struck its fuel storage tanks. The Port of Salalah is where the consolidation of our tea exports is done before it is dispatched to Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, UAE, Russia and even to Britain,” he said.
Exporters warn that the continued disruption could significantly affect farmers, particularly those affiliated with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), who depend on timely export markets.
Empire Kenya EPZ Managing Director Thushara De Sliva said logistical challenges are delaying shipments. “We used to clear our cargo within 2–3 days, but now it’s taking longer, as ships are taking more time to reach the port of Mombasa while others have cancelled their trips,” he said.
The conflict, now in its third week, has disrupted key maritime routes after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, significantly affecting shipping in the region.
Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (Keproba) CEO Floice Mukabana said the impact extends beyond tea to other exports such as coffee and meat.
“The ongoing conflict in the Gulf region, which has led to the closure of key maritime routes, is a wake-up call for Kenya to invest more in intra-Africa trade,” Mukabana said.
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