Kenya has received the showers. Both the sides of the Rift have seen the rains and reports have come in that the crop inflows to the tea factories are stable. Indian producers are watching this for, since a month now, Kenya's misfortune had become India's fortune. In February, all of a sudden, prices spurted at the South Indian auctions and more so, Coonoor where increases of Rs 8 to 12 a kilo over the previous week were recorded. The only discernible reason was the purchases made by Pakistan. And, exporters to Pakistan came with vigour to Coonoor only because, Kenya, from where Pakistani traders have been importing their bulk of teas, could not maintain the supplies due to the prolonged drought. When such instance had occurred in the past, Pakistan had picked up Assam teas to substitute Kenyan grades, but now, Assam teas are yet to hit the market and hence, these traders were shopping in Coonoor.
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