Kenya's tea prices were mixed at this week's auction, with some grades easing on dipping quality, dealers said on Wednesday. Mombassa-based Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) said there was good demand for the 94,405 packages offered at the auction, compared with 85,280 packages last week.

Brighter Best Pekoe Ones fetched between $2.20-$2.73 per kg compared with $2.26-$2.90 at the last auction, ATB said. Brighter Best Pekoe Fanning Ones fetched $1.70-$2.40 per kg compared with the last auction's $1.80-$2.30.

ATB said Afghanistan, the Pakistan Bazaar and the Egyptian Packer Sector bought more tea than at last week's auction, as did Britain, Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries.

Russia, Eastern Europe and Sudan bought less tea than at last week's auction, while the Egyptian government sector was inactive, ATB said.

Out of the total 94,405 packages offered, 12,600 were unsold compared with 12,420 unsold last week.

Kenya is one of the world's top three producers of black tea, alongside India and Sri Lanka.

Copyright Reuters, 2005