Temporary reprieve as Sudan clears stranded Kenyan tea amid ongoing trade ban
The East Africa Tea Trade Association confirmed that Sudan has permitted the clearance of 207 containers of tea, each carrying 400 bags, which were stuck at Port Sudan for over three months.
Kenyan tea exporters have been allowed to clear a consignment of tea that had already arrived in Sudan before Khartoum imposed a trade ban on March 11, 2025, offering a brief reprieve in a standoff that has strained trade ties between the two countries.
The East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) confirmed that Sudan has permitted the clearance of 207 containers of tea, each carrying 400 bags, which were stuck at Port Sudan for over three months.
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As reported by Business Daily, EATTA managing director George Omuga said the development offers some relief, but warned that the trade ban remains firmly in place.
“It is a relief after Kenya and Sudan allowed us to clear the consignment, but back home, we have stockpiles at the port of Mombasa and at different warehouses as we cannot sell the stock to the country due to the existing ban,” Omuga said.
The temporary clearance only applies to the cargo that was already in transit before the ban took effect, and the clearance window is expected to last only a few days.
The affected consignment has been incurring demurrage charges while docked at Port Sudan, further piling pressure on exporters.
Sudan is one of the top 10 importers of Kenyan tea and is known for buying specific grades that are difficult to market elsewhere.
“Sudan primarily imports specific tea grades that are not easily absorbed by other markets. The Mombasa Tea Auction is ongoing, but without Sudanese special tea,” Omuga noted.
Despite the brief window to offload the stranded cargo, tea exporters remain alarmed about the broader impact of the ban, especially on cash flow and the sustainability of the trade.
Some traders in Mombasa say they are stuck with large volumes of unsold tea and are incurring warehouse costs as they cannot redirect the Sudan-specific grades to other markets.
“Apart from selling consignment, which was on the supply chain while the ban was effected, the ongoing ban will significantly impact tea prices and auction sales, exacerbating an already existing market glut at the Mombasa tea auction,” said Kariuki Njenga, a tea dealer based in Mombasa.
He warned that losing Sudan as a key export destination would hit the Kenyan tea industry hard. “Losing Sudan as a top five export market would deal a major blow to Kenya’s tea industry,” Njenga said.
Tea industry players are now urging the Kenyan government to engage Sudanese authorities to find a lasting solution and protect the livelihoods of farmers and traders who rely on the Sudanese market.
The ongoing ban is already threatening tea bonuses and incomes for smallholder farmers across the country.
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