Kenya is eyeing a larger share of the United States market by increasing shipments of specialized tea and coffee beverages that fetch premium prices.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the strategy will give Kenyan farmers a competitive edge and boost their earnings, noting that American consumers are increasingly drawn to specialty beverages.“The United States presents a huge market potential that Kenya intends to tap by positioning our coffee and tea as premium products,” Kagwe said.
Latest data shows the U.S. imported 272,251 kilos of Kenyan tea in April this year, ranking it 21st among Kenya’s top markets for the produce. However, Kagwe believes this volume is only a fraction of the opportunities available.
Speaking during a meeting with potential agricultural investors in the U.S., the CS revealed that plans are underway to secure dedicated quarters for Kenyan tea and coffee in key American retail stores.
He added that Kenya is also working to strengthen traceability systems to ensure compliance with international standards and expand the range of agricultural goods accessing global markets.
Kagwe emphasized that expanding exports of specialty beverages will not only diversify Kenya’s markets but also improve farmers’ incomes by shifting focus from bulk commodity trade to value-added products.
