• Kenya studies Geographic Indication for tea to boost global market value
  

• French-backed review explores origin-based branding and collective trademark options
  

• GI aims to close revenue gap with China, Sri Lanka despite higher export volumes

Kenya is conducting a feasibility study to assess whether specific tea production zones could benefit from a Geographical Indication (GI), a protected designation used internationally for distinctive agricultural products.

In a statement released Friday, November 14, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) said the study is being carried out by experts from the French agricultural research center CIRAD, with support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Embassy in Kenya.

According to the TBK, the study aims to identify the distinctive attributes of major tea-producing regions, analyze the structure of the tea value chain, and evaluate how an origin-based marketing strategy could strengthen Kenya’s position in global markets.

In addition to the GI option, the study is also examining the possibility of registering a Collective Trademark for Kenyan tea. Unlike a GI, a collective trademark does not require a proven link between a product and a specific geographic area. Instead, it depends on membership in an association that defines usage rules, regardless of origin.

If the feasibility study yields positive results, Kenya would be better positioned to capture more value from its tea in the international market. The TBK said the broader goal is to position Kenyan tea as a premium product.

Commercially, GIs tend to create value throughout the entire supply chain by differentiating products based on origin and securing access to targeted markets. The initiative is strategically important as Kenya seeks to remain competitive against major Asian producers.

In 2024, Kenya exported 625,558 tons of tea, a volume 67 percent higher than China’s 374,118 tons and more than double Sri Lanka’s 243,168 tons, which rank as the world’s second and third-largest exporters.

However, East Africa’s largest economy generated only 1.4 billion dollars in revenue, nearly the same as Sri Lanka and only slightly below China, which earned 1.41 billion dollars, according to data compiled by the Trade Map platform.

This gap is largely due to Kenya’s heavy reliance on exporting unbranded, unpackaged black bulk tea to lower-value markets. China and Sri Lanka, by contrast, specialize in higher-value specialty and packaged teas that command significantly better prices in premium segments.

Stéphanas Assocle