A Review Of The Kenya Crop & The Mombasa Market: January, 2012

 

O F F E R E D

S O L D*

AVERAGE

2 0 1 2

Packages

Kilos

Packages

Kilos

US$

Kenya

466,078

31,113,440.00

420,882

28,196,334.00

$2.91

Uganda

125,431

7,035,314.00

104,641

5,784,468.00

$1.73

Rwanda

33,349

2,122,787.70

28,906

1,829,746.60

$2.69

Madagascar

360

20,000.00

280

15,564.00

$1.88

Tanzania

29,955

1,613,651.00

25,815

1,352,265.00

$1.25

Malawi

6,160

331,980.00

5,580

296,412.00

$1.21

D R of Congo

40

2,228.00

40

2,228.00

$1.64

Mozambique

2,556

138,927.00

2,016

104,196.00

$.099

Burundi

16,017

975,023.50

13,556

826,384.50

$2.65

TOTAL

679,946

43,343,351.20

601,716

38,407,598.10

$2.64

 

2 0 1 1

Packages

Kilos

Packages

Kilos

US$

Kenya

325,308

21,360,401.50

286,160

18,735,403.00

$3.21

Uganda

91,567

5,152,093.00

72,918

4,008,684.00

$1.99

Rwanda

29,820

1,911,631.30

22,620

1,447,614.20

$3.13

Madagascar

680

39,952.00

680

39,956.00

$2.21

Tanzania

17,260

915,362.50

14,152

731,343.50

$1.64

Malawi

3,380

186,453.50

2,800

152,253.50

$1.50

D R of Congo

760

45,472.00

640

37,644.00

$2.07

Mozambique

2,441

127,804.00

1,700

86,432.50

$1.45

Burundi

9,030

549,925.50

7,610

463,091.00

$3.15

TOTAL

480,246

30,289,095.30

409,280

25,702,421.70

$2.95

 (Incl of outlots from previous sales)

 

The crop for the month of December, 2011 has been announced at 41,392,584kgs showing an increase of 3,062,218kgs (7.99%) over the same month in 2010. The cumulative figure now stands at 377,912,178 kgs – 21,094,199 kgs (5.29%) below the similar period last year.

 

KENYA:

West of the Rift, Kericho:

Kericho reported very dry hot conditions accompanied by windy weather in the first week which continued through the month but a few showers were experienced in the second week.

Bomet and Buret  - recorded similar weather patterns but a few scattered showers were reported in the first two weeks building to some rainfall of 7mm in the third week.

Sotik, Gucha, Nyamira and Kisiiexperienced warm drier weather conditions through the month.

Temperatures averaged maximum of 25°C and minimum of 8°C during the month.

 

Nandi – recorded 14.1mm (weekly total 198mm) rainfall in the first week and 2.7mm (weekly total 37.8mm) recorded in the third week but conditions were warmer and drier through the remaining period of the month. Temperatures averaged maximum 27°C and minimum 8°C during the month.

 

East of the Rift – most districts reported dry weather in the first week although Muranga, Nyeri and Kirinyaga received some showers; 6mm of rainfall was received in the Aberdare range of Mountains the following week with 8m in Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri and Kirinyaga while Embu and Meru reported 10mm. In the third week Muranga, Nyeri and Kirinyaga continued to receive rainfall of 8mm while areas around the Aberdares reported only a few scattered showers; Kiambu, Embu and Meru experienced drier conditions which spread into the fourth and fifth weeks in all tea growing areas. Temperatures averaged 24°C in the month.

Crop        West of the Rift –showed signs of declining in the first week and suffered frost damage the following week remaining low for the rest of the period with droughty conditions.

Nandi – levels remained low with much frost damage recorded in the second week.

East of the Rift – continues to decline with bushes suffering much frost damage in the second week.

 

EAST USAMBARAS – TANZANIA:  Drier weather conditions were experienced right through the month with scattered showers recorded in the first and third weeks only.

Cropshowed improvement in the first week but has declined.

 

WESTERN UGANDA: Bushenyi received 23mm of rainfall while Hoima reported 22.4mm during the first week but Fort Portal experienced only scattered showers while Kibaale was drier; dry weather conditions were reported in all districts the following week but Bushenyi recorded some showers. Fort Portal and Bushenyi saw less rainfall of 8mm and 3.8mm respectively in the third week while Hoima and Kibaale continued to experience drier weather which spread into to all districts in the remaining weeks.

Cropcontinue to drop.

 

Five sales were held during the month where a total of 601,716 packages were sold at an average price of US$2.64 comparative figures for the same month last year were 409,280 packages sold at an average price of US$2.95.

 

With lower stock availability and after extensive damage of crop in most areas in the region, the market showed signs of resurgence with strong buoyancy in the third auction. Thereafter the market suffered a major setback due to the slackening efficiency at the Port of Mombasa with the resultant serious congestion.

 

Good general demand for the 8,584,700 kilos (134,414 packages) on offer at irregular rates with (20.87%) teas neglected. Brighter BP1s were well absorbed at fully firm levels to USC17 dearer but a few lines eased by upto USC13 while well made mediums met improved enquiry and gained USC2 to 16 but others declined by a similar level; lower medium BP1s were irregular and varied between firm to USC4 dearer to easier by a similar margin. Plainer sorts were well absorbed at firm to USC10 easier. Brighter PF1s saw less interest and eased by USC2 to 16 with mediums varying between firm to USC6 dearer to easier by upto USC4 and some lines remained unsold. Lower mediums were a weak feature at firm to USC26 easier while plainer descriptions were discounted by USC2 to 20 with plainest neglected but a few improved lines gained. Brighter PDUSTs saw improved competition appreciating by USC4 to 12 but some invoices shed USC5 to 6 while mediums were well absorbed gaining USC2 to 14 but a few lines lost upto USC16; lower mediums met good absorption of firm to USC6 above last prices. Plainer types were irregular varying between firm to USC13 dearer to easier by upto USC20 with plainest teas remaining unsold. Brighter DUST1s were well absorbed ranging between firm to USC10 dearer to easier by upto USC4 while mediums saw better competition at firm to USC14 dearer but a few lines shed upto USC4; lower mediums gained USC6 to 14. Plainer sorts varied between USC16 dearer to easier by upto USC6.

 

Improved general demand for the 7,916,335 kilos (122,895 packages) on offer with pries closely following quality but some teas, particularly plainest types, remained unsold (12.47%). Brighter BP1s saw improved competition gaining USC2 to 18 while mediums were irregular and varied between USC6 to 12 dearer to easier by upto USC5; lower medium BP1s met an irregular enquiry varying between USC16 dearer to easier by upto USC10. Plainer sorts were a weak feature and discounted by USC2 to 8 with some lines neglected. Brighter PF1s were well competed for appreciating by USC3 to 10 with mediums a strong feature and gained USC5 to 10 while lower mediums met strong support at USC4 to 20 dearer and substantially more for a few coloury types. Plainer PF1s met less interest with many lines withdrawn but improved teas were USC7 to 8 dearer. Brighter PDUSTs met an irregular enquiry varying between USC2 to 8 dearer to easier by upto USC4 while mediums ranged between USC4 to 10 dearer to easier by upto USC2; lower mediums saw better competition at USC6 to 14 dearer. Plainer descriptions were USC2 to 18 dearer but some invoices remained unsold. Brighter DUST1s were fully firm to USC6 dearer with mediums firm to USC8 dearer but a few invoices shed upto USC2. Lower mediums were firm to USC14 above last prices while plainer types were USC4 to 10 dearer.

 

Strong general demand for the 9,221,695 kilos (145,391 packages) on offer at dearer rates with less teas remaining unsold (11.31%) in the third sale of the month. Brighter BP1s were well competed for at USC2 to 20 dearer while mediums were fully firm to USC12 dearer; lower mediums were irregular and ranged between USC2 to 10 dearer to easier by a similar margin and some invoices were neglected. Plainer types were firm to USC12 dearer but some teas remained unsold. Brighter PF1s saw improved competition at USC13 to 24 dearer with mediums a strong feature gaining USC8 to 24 but poorer types shed upto USC15. Improved lower medium PF1s were USC2 to 20 above last prices but others were discounted by upto USC12 with a few invoices neglected. Plainer descriptions held firm to USC34 above last levels but some lines received no bids. Brighter PDUSTs were a strong feature and appreciated by USC7 to 46 while mediums were well competed for at firm to USC28 dearer; lower mediums gained USC16 to 26. Plainer saw good enquiry at upto USC30 dearer but poorer teas remained unsold. Brighter DUST1s met good absorption at USC6 to 16 dearer while mediums appreciated by USC8 to 20 with lower mediums USC16 to 26 dearer. Plainer types saw good enquiry at about firm to USC20 above last prices.

 

Less general demand for the largest auction, todate, offering 9,409,113 kilos (148,370 packages) at generally easier rates with many more teas remaining unsold (25.61%) in the following sale. There was lower absorption due to large stocks held up at the Port of Mombasa and in Warehouses.  Brighter BP1s saw good interest but shed USC12 to 26 although a few lines gained upto USC20 while mediums met improved competition gaining USC8 to 12 but some invoices shed upto USC6; lower mediums saw good enquiry at USC2 to 14 dearer. Plainer sorts were irregular and varied between USC2 easier to dearer upto USC6 to 20. Brighter PF1s met an irregular enquiry and varied between USC8 to 25 easier to dearer by USC4 to 10 with mediums discounted by USC17 to 20 but some coloury lines gained upto USC5. Lower medium PF1s were heavily discounted by US5 to 36 and many teas were neglected but a few improved invoices were upto USC5 dearer while plainer types saw heavy withdrawals but some improved lines gained USC2 to 18; others lost upto USC30 where sold. Brighter PDUSTs met irregular interest with a few improved lines upto USC20 dearer but others eased by USC4 to 16 while mediums were a weak feature and shed USC6 to 20 with a few invoices remaining unsold; lower mediums were discounted by USC20 to 26 with many teas neglected. Plainer descriptions were a weak feature losing upto USC30 with many lines taken out. Brighter DUST1s saw less activity at USC2 to 14 easier with mediums discounted by USC2 to 12 while lower medium DUST1s were a weak feature and shed USC14 to 25 but clean coloury lines were upto USC8 dearer. Plainer teas were well competed for at firm to USC18 below last prices.

 

Good demand for the 8,211,505.50 kilos (128,876 packages) on offer with some teas remaining unsold (16.56%) in the last sale of the month of January. Brighter BP1s met improved interest at USC10 to 38 dearer with a few lines easier by USC7 to 28 while mediums gained upto USC25; lower mediums saw an irregular enquiry and varied between firm to USC4 dearer to easier by a similar margin. Plainer sorts met irregular interest ranging between USC4 to 32 dearer to easier by USC3 to 16. Brighter PF1s saw less inquiry at USC4 to 18 easier with mediums discounted by USC4 to 17. Lower mediums were USC6 to 18 below last levels while plainer types met irregular interest ranging between USC2 to 10 dearer to easier by USC2 to 28 with some lines taken out.  Brighter PDUSTs were easier by USC4 to 16 while mediums were discounted by a similar margin. Lower mediums were a weak feature easing by USC18 to 20 while plainer descriptions shed USC24 to 40 with many withdrawals. Brighter DUST1s met less interest at USC4 to 10 easier while mediums were lower by USC2 to 10; lower mediums were discounted by USC2 to 26. Plainer DUST1s saw less competition at USC8 to 32 easier where sold.

 

In the secondary catalogues cleaner well made BPs eased while others were firm in the first two sales and all categories held firm in the third week with other types firm the following week but better types declined; all categories gained in the last auction. PFs were generally dearer but irregularly easier in the first and last weeks. Coloury clean well sorted Fannings met an irregular enquiry but were dearer in Sales 01, 03 and 05 while similar Dusts appreciated. Other Fannings were unsteady in the opening week gaining in the next two sales but showed easier tendencies in the final two weeks with similar Dusts dearer and only eased in Sale 04. BMFs met good absorption particularly in Sale 04 but eased in the second sale.

 

Pakistan Packers lent strong support and continued active through the month with Egyptian Packers showing strong enquiry in the second, third and fifth weeks but interest waned in the remaining sales. Afghanistan was less active at the beginning of the month but showed more activity the following week and was strong in the third week with interest declining in Sale 04 but there was more interest in the last sale while Bazaar maintained activity. There was some enquiry from the UK in the first week but was selective with less enquiry the following week but showed more interest in the remaining sales but was selective. Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries maintained support showing more interest in the third week while Kazakhstan(CIS) and Russia were more active in the first week and lent strong enquiry in Sales 02, 04 and 05. Sudan showed more activity which waned in the 3rd week while Iran was quieter at the start but re-entered the market in the second week and was more active in the third week; was however outbid the following week. Somalia was active at the lower end of the market especially in the second and third weeks.

C T C QUOTATIONS – Opening (italics) & Closing Sales

CATEGORY

BP1 – USC

PF1 – USC

PDUST – USC

DUST1 – USC

Best

237–346

276–358

312–338

310–372

322–344

320–375

332–368

330–370

Good

235–253

272–304

308–314

312–318

310–330

324–336

330–340

328–332

Good Medium

235–252

265–302

305–318

304–322

316–330

323–334

324–340

324–338

Medium

200–252

225–270

280–313

250–312

277–326

276–332

298–326

295–342

Lower Medium

146–210

150–198

174–238

188–258

260–302

270–295

285–308

220–302

Plainer

102–160

090–150

098–218

100–218

088–270

095–262

085–298

100–290