EATTA Banks on Cutting edge Tech to Spur Multi-Million Tea Trade
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The East Africa tea trade players are banking on cutting-edge technology to streamline operations and promote the sector’s efficiency at the largest Tea Auction Center in Mombasa County.
East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) managing director George Amuga said that the investment on cutting-edge technology has streamlined operations and increased the trust and confidence of buyers and sellers alike, thus, fostering a more robust and transparent marketplace.
Over time the African tea sector has also seen tremendous technological advancements that have revolutionized the way traders in the region do business.
“Over the past decade, we have embraced technology to create efficiencies, save time, and enhance transparency across the entire value chain,” he said.
He made the remarks during the 6th African International Tea Convention that was held at the City of Kigali in Rwanda.
The trade center has embraced initiatives like the multi-hall system which transformed the auction process, allowing players to handle multiple transactions simultaneously, and reducing bottlenecks.
The systems, he says, has ensured every stakeholder can access real-time information without delay.
However, the MD said despite the successes over time, the global and African tea sectors face significant challenges among them climate change.
“Climate change poses a real threat, with unpredictable weather patterns becoming more frequent, increased incidences of pests and diseases, and an overall impact on tea quality.”
The EATTA plays a critical role in the African tea trade, acting as a linchpin for the industry within member countries.
Omuga noted that EATTA has been at the forefront of ensuring that the African tea trade has remained vibrant and competitive on the global stage.
“Our member countries—Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—are united in our mission to promote the highest standards in tea production and trade.”
The EATTA chairman Athur Sewe assured traders of heightened transparency and efficiency in the auction due to installation of modern electronic systems.
“The auction’s efficiency and transparency are enhanced by innovative systems such as electronic auction and billboards, ensuring smooth operations and timely payments,” he said.
The EATTA is a voluntary membership organization that brings together tea producers, buyers (exporters), brokers, tea packers, and warehouses, all working collaboratively to promote the best interests of the tea trade in Africa.
With a membership comprising over 315 companies from across East, Central and Southern Africa, EATTA is dedicated to creating an enabling business environment that maintains global standards and delivers tea products to customers in the most profitable way.
EATTA manages Mombasa Tea Auction Centre which is the largest black CTC auction in the world that exports over 482 million kilos to the world in 2023 and 517 million kilos in 2022.
Established in 1969, the centre has grown to become a central hub for the tea trade, attracting buyers and sellers from around the globe.
The auction is held weekly and handles teas from multiple countries openly and transparently.
This multi-origin auction system offers a variety of teas, from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Ethiopia making it highly attractive to international buyers.
