East African Tea Trade Association

Facilitating a world class trading platform for African teas.

Marketing

Best Value for African Tea in the Global Market

Tea Auction

Promotion of orderly sale of tea among members in Africa.

Member Countries

10

Members

267

Teas Sold In Tons

545954

Value in Billions

120

EATTA at a Glance

The East African Tea Trade Association is a voluntary organization bringing together Tea Producers, Buyers (Exporters), Brokers, Tea Packers and Warehouses, all working to promote the best interests of the Tea Trade in Africa. Currently, membership comprises over three hundred companies extending across the East and Central African borders. EATTA mandated to promote and facilitate the interests of all the stakeholders in the tea trade in Africa by creating an enabling business environment geared towards maintaining global standards and delivering tea products to the customers in the most profitable way.

Vision: To be the leading tea trade association globally

Mission: To facilitate a world class trading platform for African teas and provide sustainable service to members.

Core Business

TEA AUCTION

Promotion of orderly sale of tea among members in Africa through facilitation of the Mombasa Tea Auction operations and ensuring compliance with the constitution.

LOBBYING & ADVOCACY

To lobby regulatory and statutory bodies in member countries to create an enabling business environment for our members along the value chain.

MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT

To facilitate effective access to market and other relevant industry trade information.

INFORMATION CENTRE

To compile and circulate statistical information to assist members in their operations.

Mombasa Tea Auction Process

The Export Auction System was initiated in November 1956 in Nairobi on a very small scale with only small quantities of secondary grade teas offered fortnightly under the auspices of the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA). The bulk of East African tea production was directly consigned to the London Auctions. In time, East African Producer members considered it worthwhile to offer additional volume and quantity in the local export auctions. As quantities increased, the incentive for international buying concerns to open up offices in Kenya grew. Gradually, more international buyers were attracted, spreading interest to markets other than the U.K. In 1969 it was decided by both Producer and Buyer members of the Association that, as tea was mainly warehoused, handled and shipped from Mombasa, the Auctions be moved from Nairobi to the Port of Mombasa.

The Auctions are held weekly, on Mondays and Tuesdays. There is presently, a main grades auction held on Tuesdays and secondary grades auction held on Mondays.The variety of quality and progressively increased quantities offered have made Mombasa the second largest black tea auction centre in the world after Colombo in Sri-Lanka. Unlike India and Sri-Lanka where tea is seasonal, production in this region is all year round. Mombasa has gained a reputation as a centre for some of the best CTC top grades in the world and an international blending floor with teas coming from within and outside Africa for blending. Every major tea producing and consuming country focuses on the weekly activities in this centre to gauge the market trends and create benchmarks for their international prices of tea. Due to the success story of the Mombasa auctions, courtesy of the EATTA, more producing countries continue to join the Association.

Presently there are offerings from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Madagascar,Mozambique and Ethiopia.Producers from as far as New Guinea and Indonesia have expressed their wish to join the Association and have their teas offered in the Mombasa auction. Mombasa is now the only auction centre in the world trading in straight-line teas from more than one country. Quantities have grown by over 300 percent in the last 20 years. This could not have been possible without the tight checks and controls in the whole system. These checks range from setting minimum standards to severe disciplinary action against errant members of the trade as EATTA is often the platform for addressing problems affecting members.

The auctions attract principal overseas interest from the major tea consuming countries in the world with the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Somalia, Canada and Singapore as the major players. The Buyer representation spreads over more than fifty countries internationally. The Buyer members, by way of obtaining supply contracts, effectively promote and market African tea abroad. With the closure of the London Auction in 1998 the volumes offered at the Mombasa Auctions have considerably grown with an expectant market expansion. Tea Exporters are required to register all Sale Contracts with the Tea Directorate within thirty days of being finalized in a Contract Registration Form together with the relevant export documents.

A certain percentage of tea is sold by Brokers through Private Treaties to Buyer members which is a complementary feature to the weekly Monday Auctions. Teas bought from the Auction or by Private Treaty, in accordance with the Constitution of the Association, may be exported or packed and sold on the local market, in accordance with the Laws of Kenya. Import Duty and Value Added Tax are payable on any Non-Kenyan teas removed from a Warehouse for home consumption.

Sale No. 42 of 26th October, 1992 is fondly remembered as the sale the Mombasa Tea Auction went international by conducting a most successful US dollar auction in accordance with Kenya Government Policy as per Exchange Control Circular No. 5/92/13 of 15/10/92. Although there were a few teething problems, the system entrenched itself within a short while. This is a big step which neither India, the largest producer of tea nor Colombo, the biggest auction in the world, have managed to achieve to-date. All sales are held under the self-regulating rules and regulations of the EATTA which ensure fair play. Trade is between members. Auction sales are numbered on an annual basis starting with Sale No.1 on the first Monday in January and ending  with sale 50 or 51 in December.

The Association regularly works towards further improvements in warehousing, handling, shipping and communications in order to attract the international buying support that is so essential for the success of the East African Tea Trade. The largely unexplored opportunities in the value added export market are an area for the Packer members to address. The Government is encouraging growth in this sector with facilities such as export processing zones. Other incentives such as VAT and import duty exemptions on packaging machinery and materials, soft loans and tax holidays will greatly enhance activity in this area.

The activities of the Association are driven by a Board of directors, which meets quarterly. The Board comprises six Producer representatives, three Buyers, one Brokers and one Warehouse and one packer representative elected each year in rotation at an Annual General Meeting. In turn, the Board elects a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and appoints Committees to transact its business on its behalf. The Association has functioned effectively through four committees each chaired by a board member. 

To take care of their sector's special interests, the different categories of members have formed their own Sub-Associations under the umbrella of the EATTA. These are the Tea Producers’, Tea Buyers', Tea Brokers', and Tea Warehouses Associations.

The day to day administration of the Association is provided by a Secretariat based at the Tea Trade Centre on Nyerere Avenue, Mombasa where the two auction centre are housed. The Secretariat compiles and circulates statistical information and trade enquiries to assist members in their sales operations. Minutes of all Association meetings are recorded and filed at the Secretariat, which operates on funds raised from members' annual subscriptions.

Regular consultations and meetings are held between the various related central government Ministries, departments and other allied trades such as the Kenya Ports Authority, the Shipping lines, all in the interest of the tea trade in the region. The Association's Board works closely with the Tea Board of Kenya, which is the apex of the Industry in Kenya. A Tea Convention held after every two years, is organised by the EATTA.

Recent Updates

Collaborative Endeavor for Tea Advancement: EATTA Board Engages with Tanzanian Tea Leaders

Collaborative Endeavor for Tea Advancement: EATTA Board Engages with Tanzanian Tea Leaders

07 March 2024

In a recent milestone event, the EATTA Board convened with key stakeholders in Tanzania's thriving tea sector. The meeting included...

Tea Veterans Caucus Forum

Tea Veterans Caucus Forum

26 February 2024

Tea Veterans Caucus Forum organized by EATTA at the Marina English Point on Thursday, 22nd February 2024. The forum began...

The East African Tea Trade Association has a new Managing Director

The East African Tea Trade Association has a new Managing Director

02 January 2024

Join us in extending a warm welcome to Mr. George Omuga who brings a wealth of experience and a fresh...

EATTA CSR donation of USD 10,000 to Mombasa county for disaster emergency

EATTA CSR donation of USD 10,000 to Mombasa county for disaster emergency

11 December 2023

In integrating good corporate citizenship into our business strategies, the Board of East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) donated USD...

Visit by Rwanda High Commissioner

Visit by Rwanda High Commissioner

09 November 2023

We hosted the Rwanda High Commissioner at the Secretariat today. Visiting EATTA was his priority. He expressed gratitude to EATTA...

Focus Group Discussion with Uganda Tea Producer members

Focus Group Discussion with Uganda Tea Producer members

14 August 2023

Description: Focus Group Discussion with Uganda Tea Producer members. Description: Focus Group Discussion with Uganda Tea Producer members. Description: Focus...

Meeting with the KRA Regional Coordinator

Meeting with the KRA Regional Coordinator

03 August 2023

EATTA held a meeting with the KRA Regional Coordinator Southern Region Kenya Mombasa (Name) on Wednesday 2nd August 2023. The...

Consultative Forum with the President

Consultative Forum with the President

02 August 2023

The East African Tea Trade Association was invited to a consultative forum with the President, His Excellency Dr. William Samoei...

Press Release

Press Release

24 May 2023

Press Release by East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) on the insecurity and wanton destruction of property in the tea...

Fifth African Tea Convention & Exhibition

17 May 2022

The East African Tea Trade Association in collaboration with the Burundi Tea Authority (OTB) will be conducting the 5th African...

EATTA RESPONSE ON TEA REGULATIONS

11 September 2020

EATTA reponse to Tea Regulations

Tea Farmers urged to focus on improving quality of Tea

Tea Farmers urged to focus on improving quality of Tea

05 August 2019

Tea farmers urged to focus on improving quality of Tea

EATTA calls on farmers not to focus solely on raising tea volumes

EATTA calls on farmers not to focus solely on raising tea volumes

05 August 2019

The East African Tea Trade Association is appealing to tea farmers across the country to focus on producing higher quality...

US Ambassador Kyle McCarter

US Ambassador Kyle McCarter

21 June 2019

EATTA was honored to host the US ambassador to Kenya His excellency Kyle McCarter when he visited Mombasa Tea Auction...

Membership & Affiliation

Kenya Chamber of Commerce
Federation of Kenya Employers
International Tea Committee
 
 
 

EATTA is ISO 9001:2015 Certified.

EATTA is ISO 9001:2015 Certified

CONTACT INFORMATION

Hours:
Mon - Fri 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM

Tel: +254 41 2228460 / 2220093 / 2312336
Cell: +254 733 208700/ 722 208699
Fax: +254 41 2225823

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