Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea output down 16.3-pct in May 2022

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea production was down 16.3 percent in May 2022 from a year earlier to 26.04 million kilograms while the total output for the first five months dipped 17 percent from the previous year, data shows.

In May high growth teas were down 15.97 percent to 6.3 million kilograms, medium grown was fell 19.83 percent to 4.7 million kilograms and low grown were down 15 percent to 14.8 million kilograms, industry data published by Forbes and Walkers Tea Brokers show.

“On a cumulative basis too, all elevations have shown a decline over the corresponding period of 2021,” industry data said.

Low grown teas, mostly grown by small holders and exported to the Middle East and Central Asia are the most sought-after and expensive Ceylon Teas now.

The national average tea price in the month of May was 3.69 dollars or 1,324.95 in rupees.

Sri Lankan tea has been earning higher prices for tea exports in rupees after the currency was depreciated in March against the USA dollar in 2022.

However, the industry had previously predicted the tea output to dip following a fertiliser ban that was imposed in April to November 2021.

The ban was imposed on fertilizer and agrochemicals after money printing created forex shortages and over health concerns.

Sri Lanka’s Government Medical Officers Association, a key policy advisory group, had said according to the Roman author and natural philosopher Pliny the Elder, ancient Sri Lankans lived over 140 years and after agrochemicals, non-communicable diseases had worsened.

In the first five months of 2021, tea output was up 31.5 percent to 135.6 million kilograms. (Colombo/June26/2021)