EATTA - East African Tea Trade Association

EATTA Membership

Strengths of the auction system

Everything is public. Weekly prices are set in an open forum, with great transparency about who is buying and at what prices.
Everybody pays the same price for the same tea. Large multinational companies have no ability to negotiate lower prices.
Smaller producers can participate: It is possible for any producer to market their tea to the local, regional and international market otherwise it would be very difficult and very expensive to do this.
Smaller buyers can participate: All producers sell a proportion of their tea at auction, so even the smallest buyers can have access through division of lots and hence smaller quantities can be bought.
It is highly efficient: It is a very effective way of moving large volumes of tea from producers to buyers and helps producers’ cash flow.

What makes Mombasa Auction Centre Attractive?

It is dollar denominated making it convenient for the international tea buyer
It is the only multi origin auction centre handling tea from ten producer countries. This is a benefit as it offers the buyer variety of tea thereby more attractive
It is free from VAT since the tea sold through the auction does not attract taxes.
It is the auction Centre that most embraces innovation; including the electronic bill board tea sales payment system, live streaming that allows remote access to the auction proceedings by the producer from the comfort of their farm. The next move is the development of an electronic auction platform to enhance efficiency and transparency.
Payment for tea is assured and made by the tea buyers within 9 working days.
Access to the port thereby allowing efficient delivery to overseas customers
It runs every week throughout the year, except during the week of Christmas.

Exporter requirement

Member Functions

Tea Producers

These are companies involved in the planting, farming, harvesting and production of tea.

Tea Brokers who auction in the Mombasa Tea represent producers who are located in different member countries. Collectively, the brokers form the Tea Brokers' Association, which functions under the Constitution Rules and Regulations of the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA).

Tea Buyers

Companies involved in buying tea, either in auction or by private sale, for the purpose of exporting that tea to various tea consuming countries around the world. This category also includes Buyers trading in the domestic market.

Tea Packers

Companies involved in buying teas for the purposes of blending in order to create diverse qualities, and then packing Into convenient smaller wed units suitable for selling through retail outlets.

Tea Warehouses

The Warehouseman's function, in keeping physical custody of the tea, is to safeguard the interests of both the Producer and the Buyer. In this respect, the Warehouseman acts at one time as the agent of the Producer and at another time the Buyer's agent.