(Ecofin Agency) - In Kenya, tea exports to Pakistan generated about KSh3.7 billion ($36.5 million) in January 2018. Compared to the volume exported during the same period last year, this represents a decrease by 50%.

According to the Kenyan tea directorate, this downward trend is attributable to the stricter sanitary standards imposed by Pakistan.

In particular, they included the obligation, for exporters, to present an aflatoxin level certificate; a new requirement that led Pakistanis to reduce their purchases to 12,000 tons against 24,000 tons a year earlier.

The directorate revealed however that Pakistan tea association announced it had lifted the ban last February 2. Let’s recall that Pakistan is the main destination for Kenyan tea. In 2017, the Asian country captured 9,000 tons of leaf,  34% of the total volume shipped from Kenya.

Espoir Olodo