America, Israel, and Iran are clashing, and the mood of the world is affected. This is how the global scene appeared after the Kenyan tea industry witnessed an unprecedented crisis due to the repercussions of the Iranian war on global shipping routes, as about eight million kilograms of tea have been stuck in warehouses in the coastal city of Mombasa for weeks, threatening export revenues and the income of thousands of farmers.

Kenyan tea exports halted

George Omoja, managing director of the East African Tea Traders Association, said that losses resulting from the halt in shipments since March 1st amounted to about $8 million per week, adding that the main tea auction in Mombasa was suffering a direct and negative impact as a result of the crisis, according to Reuters.,

The Kenyan official explained that between 20-25% of Kenyan tea exports usually went to Middle Eastern markets, but shipments to those markets have now stopped after buyers reduced their orders due to the accumulation of non-transportable stock.

It is worth noting that Kenya is the world’s third largest exporter of tea and the world’s leading exporter of black tea, exporting more than 500 million kilograms annually and holding a significant market share.

In addition, the Iran-Iraq War caused widespread disruption to shipping, with major shipping companies suspending passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, rerouting ships around Africa, and imposing emergency surcharges in the region.