NAIROBI, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Drought conditions cut Kenya’s tea production by 20 percent to 200.9 million kilograms in the first six months of this year compared with the prior year, data from the state-run Agriculture and Food Authority showed on Tuesday.

Kenya is the world’s leading exporter of black tea and the commodity is a major foreign exchange earner for East Africa’s biggest economy.

Kenya’s tea exports also dropped to 221.1 million kg in the period to end June, from 257.7 million kg during a similar period last year. Pakistan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates are among the top buyers of Kenyan tea.

A drought hit many parts of Kenya’s farming areas earlier this year, affecting the output of tea while processing factories received fewer deliveries. (Editing by George Obulutsa, editing by Louise Heavens)