Nairobi, April 5, 2026 — Kenya’s tea industry — one of the country’s most critical agricultural sectors and a cornerstone of its export economy — is facing an unprecedented crisis as the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts key shipping routes to the Middle East and beyond.
For decades, Kenyan tea exporters have relied on stable maritime passage through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to reach their largest markets. But since the conflict escalated in early 2026, shipping companies have rerouted vessels away from the region, dramatically increasing transit times and costs for producers across East Africa.
The impact has been swift and devastating. Tea warehouses in Mombasa — the gateway for Kenyan tea exports — are reporting sharp increases in storage costs and logistical bottlenecks. Exporters who once enjoyed straightforward access to buyers in the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond are now facing insurance premiums and freight surcharges that make their products significantly less competitive on global markets.
A Sector Already Under Pressure
Kenya’s tea industry was already contending with a series of compounding challenges — drought conditions in key growing regions, rising fertilizer costs, and labor disputes on large estates. The Hormuz disruption has added a layer of complexity that many producers say they cannot absorb without passing costs on to farmers.
"Every week that this conflict continues, our position in global markets becomes more precarious," said one major Kenyan tea exporter, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Buyers in our traditional markets are turning to suppliers who can guarantee faster, cheaper delivery. Some of them will not come back to us even after this is over."
Kenya is the world’s largest black tea exporter, with the sector employing directly and indirectly more than five million people across the country. Smallholder farmers, who account for the majority of tea production, have been among the hardest hit by rising input costs and delayed payments from cash-strapped processors.
Regional Spillover Effects
The disruption is being felt well beyond Kenya’s borders. Tea-producing nations across East Africa — Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda — all depend to varying degrees on the same shipping lanes and global supply chains. Industry observers say the conflict has exposed the fragility of the region’s reliance on a single export corridor.
Several major global tea brands that source from Kenya have begun exploring alternative supply arrangements, including increased purchases from Sri Lanka and India. While no major buyer has publicly committed to diversifying away from Kenyan tea entirely, the silent shift in procurement strategy could have long-term consequences for the sector.
The Kenyan government has so far not announced any specific measures to support tea exporters through the disruption. Trade ministry officials say they are in discussions with international partners to identify alternative routing options, though no concrete solutions have emerged.
An Industry at a Crossroads
For thousands of Kenyan tea workers, the uncertainty is deeply personal. Many smallholder farmers have already reduced their output in response to poor prices, and the latest supply chain disruptions threaten to accelerate a decline that analysts say could take years to reverse.
"Tea has sustained this country for generations," said one farmer from Kericho, one of Kenya’s principal tea-growing regions. "If the markets keep turning away from us because we cannot deliver on time, what happens to all of us?"
The answer, for now, remains uncertain. What is clear is that Kenya’s tea industry — once considered a model of agricultural success — now faces its most serious test in living memory.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, African Business