Kenyan tea prices rise at auction

NAIROBI: The average price of Kenya's top grade Broken Pekoe Ones tea climbed to $3.91 per kg at this week's auction from $3.82 per kg last week, Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) said on Tuesday.

Kenya is the world's top black tea exporter and tea is a leading foreign exchange earner in east Africa's largest economy.

ATB said Best Broke Pekoe Ones sold at $3.40-$4.41 per kg, from $3.54-$4.10 per kg last week.

Brighter Pekoe Fanning Ones (PF1s) fetched $2.27-$2.82 per kg, compared with $2.74-$2.10 per kg a week ago.

ATB said there was improved demand for 119,356 packages offered for sale, but did not say how many were left unsold. Last week, 115,741 packages were offered for sale, with 21.38 percent of them unsold.