NAIROBI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's earnings from tea exports rose 10.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022 on better global prices despite the conflict between Russia and Ukraine hurting shipments, the Tea Directorate said Wednesday.

       Kenya earned 39.5 billion shillings (about 339 million U.S. dollars) during the three months after exporting 135,721 metric tons (MT) of tea. This was an increase from 307 million dollars earned from 152,633 MT in a similar quarter in 2021 due to price increase, according to the directorate.

       Tea prices in the global market during the quarter averaged 3 dollars a kilo, up from 2.7 dollars in a similar quarter in 2021.

       Kenyan exports of tea mainly go to destinations including Pakistan, Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia.