NAIROBI, Kenya, April 17 – Kenya is looking to lift a ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran as the government looks to diversify green leaf sales from primary countries such as Pakistan, among others.
This was discussed today during a meeting between Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe and a group of Iranian businesses.
“The discussions also focused on exploring expanded trade opportunities not only with Iran but across the broader Middle Eastern and Central Asian regions,” a statement from the CS read.
“Reopening access to Iran’s robust market could be a game changer for tea farmers and the entire tea value chain.”
Kenya has faced challenges on tea exports to Iran amid United States of America (USA) sanctions that have made it difficult for local exporters to get tea payments from Iran as banks fear USA penalties. Consequently, many traders have shied away from exporting their products to this Middle Eastern nation.
At the meeting, the CS was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the UAE, Kenneth Milimo Nganga; KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi; and CEO Wilson Muthaura.
In the first ten months of 2024, Kenya’s tea export volumes surged 20.8 percent, boosted by increased demand in destination markets, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) announced earlier.
TBK said export volumes stood at 500.8 million kg, an increase from 414.5 million kg recorded in the same period of 2023, earning the country Sh155 billion.
