7 Ways to Make Money in Coffee/Tea Export in Kenya

Tea and coffee are some of Kenya’s biggest export items, as both Kenyan Tea and Coffee have found a great overseas customer base. Kenya mainly grows Arabica coffee, black tea and specialty teas which attract premium prices in the international market.   If you are interested in getting into coffee/tea export, these 7 ways to make money in coffee/tea export in Kenya will be helpful. But first, check out these statistics on tea and coffee exports from Kenya.

Export destinations

• Tea from Kenya is exported to Pakistan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, West Africa, Central Africa, Russia, the UK, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen.
• Coffee, on the other hand, is exported to Germany, Belgium, United States, South Korea, Sweden, Australia, Norway, Finland, the UK, and Romania.

Export values

• Tea worth $1.11 billion was exported in the past year, constituting 19% of Kenya’s total exports.
• Coffee worth $224 million was also exported, or 3.75% of the total exports.

Where are these crops grown?

• Tea is grown in areas like Bomet, Kiambu, Thika, Nandi, Muranga, Maragua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Kakamega, Nakuru, and Trans Nzoia.
• Coffee is grown in Kiambu, Nyeri, Muranga, Kirinyaga, Nandi, Nakuru, Meru Central, Machakos, Tharaka-Nithi, Makueni, Kipkelion, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, Kisii, and Vihiga counties. The main variety of coffee grown in Kenya is Arabica coffee.

Below are the ways to make money in coffee/tea export in Kenya.

7. Keep a close eye on the global market

• If you intend to get into export of coffee and tea, you will need to know who your competitors are, what varieties they produce, and where they export their products to. You will also need to find out what the global market trends are like. Once you get this information, you will be better placed to know which markets to venture into and which ones to secure, as well as the best times to sell your products.

6. Familiarize yourself with the export process.

• One of the 7 ways to make money in coffee/tea export in Kenya is to get to know what the export process entails. You will need to find out what steps you have to follow, what documentation is required, and how much the process will cost. This information will help you in pricing your products so that you can get a profit.

5. Identify new markets

• There will always be a new market for a good product. After you have secured a good export deal, start looking around for new markets for your coffee and/or tea. Study the market trends for countries close to or similar to the ones you already export to or identify countries that have a growing population of the clientele you already have at your current export destinations, i.e. people who know your products and will buy them regardless of where they are.

4. Implement niche marketing

• An example of niche marketing would be supplying a specific type of specialty tea to specific people in specific places. If you have unique products like coffee that has a superior taste or is from a distinct origin, or purple tea and flavored teas, etc., you can identify export destinations where these products move fast, and venture there.

3. Branding

• Another of the 7 ways to make money in coffee/tea export in Kenya is through branding. People from all over the world may have heard of Kenyan tea or coffee and would like to try it, but have never seen it on the shelves. That’s where branding comes in. Get a unique brand for your products, one that will scream “Kenyan Coffee”, or “Kenyan Tea”, or “Unique Kenya Blends”. Get the customer to see that your product exists, that it is unique, and that they need to buy it!

2. Deal directly with the producers

• If you can, avoid dealing with middlemen and deal with the farmers, producers, and millers directly. You will then be able to make sure that the quality of the product you are exporting remains consistent, that the supply is constant, and you will eliminate the extra cost of the middleman.

1. Value addition

• Lastly, don’t just stick to good old black tea and coffee beans. Add some value to your product line by getting into specialty teas, flavored teas, flavored coffees, unique coffee blends, etc. You may need to invest in the skills, technology, and machinery to implement this, but the value additions will pay off in the end!

These 7 ways to make money in coffee/tea export in Kenya are bound to be very helpful as you start your export business. Good luck!