Commodity Trading

SEA-Corp. opens up new market channels between Scandinavia and East Africa via commodity trading. By export and import of Scandinavian and East African products and services SEA-Corp. acts as a bridge for commodity trading between the different markets. We have a strong active presence on both continents as well as solid knowledge of commodity trading and the market demands.

With strong corporate networks across East Africa, SEA-Corp. enables you to cross continents with ease. SEA-Corp. together with our affiliate companies have vast interests in tourism, banking, manufacturing, horticulture, coffee and tea. These are currently key trading areas for SEA-Corp.

SEA-Corp. is also the home of the Mfalme brand.

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Coffee

Kenyan Coffee

Many recognize Kenya as the home to the finest Arabica coffee in the world, grown on the rich volcanic soils found in the highlands.

The main Kenyan produce is washed Arabica coffee of the Bourbon type. Nevertheless, a small produce of Robusta coffee is also grown. Sharp acidity, full body and a pointed fine flavor characterize the Kenyan coffee.

The major production of the Arabica coffee is of types SL28, SL34, K7 and Ruiru 11;

  • SL 28: Grown in middle altitude areas, between 1,100 m and 1,400 m above sea level. The quality is mostly Fair Average Quality (FAQ).
  • SL 34: Grown in high altitude areas, between 1,400 m and 1,900 m above sea level – more specifically on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares in the central region. This is the top quality Kenyan coffee and the most acidic with a very fine flavor.
  • K 7: Grown along the shores of the western region's Lake Victoria and the Kisii district and also known as the Blue Mountain variety. The K7 coffee is full-bodied, has little acidity and medium flavor – making it a good coffee for blending with other grades.
  • Ruiru 11: A disease resistant coffee variety developed at the Ruiru Coffee Research Station in the 1980's. Generally considered to offer a milder version of the traditional Kenyan coffee attributes.

The annual production of Kenyan coffee is approximately 880,000 bags. Approximately 25% is Top Quality, 45% FAQ (Fair Average Quality), 15% MH (Mbuni) and 15% Poor Quality.

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Tea

Kenyan Tea

Kenya is renowned for its black CTC tea but has in recent years also entered into growing orthodox tea. The equatorial climate allows tea growing all year round and Kenya exports over 349,000 tonnes of tea per year (approximately 22% of world exports).

CTC Tea

Kenyan black tea is known for being bright, colorful and having a pleasant brisk flavor. The CTC (Cut, Tear & Curl) tea is machine processed and fully oxidized black tea. CTC tea tends to be less expensive and of lesser quality than orthodox tea since the blends of tea leaves are harvested from more than one plantation during the first harvest (“flush”). Nevertheless, with a good quality tea at the beginning of a process the CTC tea at the end of the process will also be of good quality.

Assam tea is a common type of CTC tea with a rich, malty – slightly bitter – flavor takes milk well and with benefit also a bit of sugar or sweetener. It is also a great tea to use in Masala Chai (spiced tea).

SEA-Corp.’s most commonly traded grades of Kenya black tea are;

Dust1 – Fine granular particles that bring out optimum strength and body, ideal for commercial brewing.

Dust1

BP1 (Broken Pekoe 1) – The larger leaf of CTC type manufacture with bold round particles giving a full-bodied bright tea.

Broken Pekoe 1

PF1 (Pekoe Fannings 1) – A smaller size leaf of CTC type manufacture giving a strong tasting tea ideal for tea bags.

Pekoe Fannings 1

Orthodox tea

The orthodox tea is of higher quality, not as bitter, and has more subtle and multi-layered flavors than the CTC teas. Orthodox tea is usually harvested and processed by hand to get intact, whole leaves – small, young tea leaves plucked from the tips of the tea bush. It may however also be harvested and processed by machine.

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Flowers

Kenyan Flowers

Kenyan flowers are of excellent quality; grown in the favourable Kenyan climate by flower farmers with solid infrastructure, a productive workforce and the technical skills required for modern and environmentally conscious flower production and logistics.

Kenya's floriculture industry is steadily growing and in 2013 the total export was 136, 601 tons of flowers. The main cut flowers grown are Roses, Carnations, Alstromeria, Gypsophilla, Lilies, Eryngiums, Arabicum, Hypericum, Statice and a range of summer flowers.

Over a Third of Europe's Flower Sales

The high quality standards and favorable conditions have made Kenya one of the biggest exporters of roses in the world and Kenyan flowers account for 35% of all flower sales in the European Union.

Pie chart illustrating the fact that Kenyan flowers account for 35% of all flower sales in the European Union

Flower export volume by destination

Map of Europe, highlighting the members of the European Union and their share of imported Kenyan flowers
66% Holland
17% United Kingdom
5% Germany
12% Others
Source: Kenya Flower Council 2015