SRI LANKA TEA PRODUCTION - NOVEMBER 2024

Sri Lanka Tea Production for the month of November 2024 totalled 22.30 million Kgs, recording an increase of 2.52 million Kgs vis-à-vis 19.78 million Kgs of November 2023. All Elevations have recorded an increase in comparison with the corresponding month of 2023.

Compared to 20.36 million Kgs of November 2022, the corresponding month in 2024 shows an increase of 1.94 million Kgs.

January-November 2024 cumulative production totalled 240.01 million Kgs, recording an increase of 3.74 million Kgs vis-à-vis 236.28 million Kgs of January-November 2023. Compared to the corresponding period in 2023, High Growns have shown a negative variance, whilst the Medium Growns and Low Growns gained in the year 2024.

Compared to 232.13 million Kgs of January-November 2022, cumulative production of 2024 shows an increase of 7.88 million Kgs. On a cumulative basis, apart from the High Growns, all elevations have shown positive variances over the corresponding period of 2022.

The available tea crop figures for the eleven months are appended below (in MT).  

SRI LANKA TEA EXPORTS - NOVEMBER 2024

Tea Exports for the month of November 2024 totalled 20.07 million Kgs, showing a negative variance of 1.38 million Kgs vis-à-vis 21.46 million Kgs of November 2023. All categories show negative variances except for Tea Packets which has recorded a marginal gain in comparison with the corresponding month of the previous year. FOB value in November 2024 was recorded at Rs. 1,718.88, a decline of Rs. 6.89 YoY compared to Rs. 1,725.77 of November 2023.

January-November 2024 cumulative exports totalled 223.22 million Kgs, recording an increase of 2.06 million Kgs vis-à-vis 221.16 million Kgs of January-November 2023. Tea Packets and Instant Tea categories have recorded negative variances, whilst Tea in Bulk, Tea Bags and Green Tea categories have shown positive variances against the same period of the previous year.

All categories except for Tea in Bulk and Tea Packets showed negative variances in LKR terms in FOB value, whilst gains were recorded in USD terms in all categories when compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

Iraq ranks at No. 01 amongst major importers of Ceylon Tea with a total of 30.37 million Kgs, a marginal decline of 1% YoY in January-November 2024 against the previous year's 30.53 million Kgs, whilst Russia at 2nd place has witnessed an increase of 12% YoY with 22.88 million Kgs vis-à-vis 20.52 million Kgs recorded in 2023. The U.A.E with 19.61 million Kgs (20% increase YoY) followed by Türkiye 16.39 million Kgs (42% decrease YoY), China 10.67 million Kgs (6% decrease YoY) and Iran 9.58 million Kgs (84% increase YoY) have been cited as other notable importers of Ceylon Tea during the period of January-November 2024.

The tea export figures for the eleven months are listed below (in MT).   

MAJOR IMPORTERS OF SRI LANKA TEA – NOVEMBER 2024/2023 - in MT  

SRI LANKA TEA PRODUCTION - DECEMBER 2023

Sri Lanka Tea Production for the month of December 2023 totalled 19.81 million Kgs, showing an increase of 0.10 million Kgs vis-à-vis 19.71 million Kgs of December 2022. All Elevations except for the Low Grown Elevation have shown an increase in comparison with the corresponding period of 2022.

Compared to 20.52 million Kgs of December 2021, the production of December 2023 shows a decrease of 0.71 million Kgs.

January-December 2023 cumulative production totalled 256.04 million Kgs, recording an increase of 4.20 million Kgs vis-à-vis 251.84 million Kgs of January-December 2022. Compared to the corresponding period in 2022, all elevations have shown positive variances in the year 2023 aside from the Low Grown Elevation.

Compared to 299.49 million Kgs of January-December 2021, cumulative production of 2023 shows a decrease of 43.45 million Kgs. On a cumulative basis, all elevations show a decrease over the corresponding period of 2021.

The available tea crop figures for the twelve months’ period are appended below (in MT).  

SRI LANKA TEA EXPORTS - DECEMBER 2023

Tea Exports for the month of December 2023 totalled 20.75 million Kgs, showing an increase of 1.45 million Kgs vis-à-vis 19.30 million Kgs of December 2022. Packeted Tea together with Tea Bags and Green Tea have seen an improvement against the corresponding month of 2022, whilst Tea in Bulk and Instant Tea have shown a decline.

January-December 2023 cumulative exports totalled 241.91 million Kgs, showing a decrease of 8.28 million Kgs vis-à-vis 250.19 million Kgs of January - December 2022. Tea Bags and Green Tea categories have recorded a marginal growth, whilst the remaining product categories recorded a decrease against the same period of 2022.

FOB value for the period stood at Rs. 1,770.44, an increase of Rs. 127.33 vis-à-vis Rs. 1,643.11 of January-December 2022.

All categories showed gains in USD terms as well when compared to the corresponding period of 2022.

Iraq remains at No. 1 amongst major importers of Ceylon Tea with a total of 32.75 million Kgs, a decline of 24% YoY against 43.24 million Kgs in 2022. Türkiye has emerged in 2nd place with 30.41 million Kgs and growing by 95% YoY surpassing Russia (3rd Position) and the U.A.E (4th Position) where exports have declined by 8% and 18% YoY respectively. China has moved up to No. 5 with an increase of 10% against the same period in 2022. Other notable importer countries are Libya, Azerbaijan, Chile, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Iran has dropped from 5th to 11th position with a 50% decline in imports for the period under review.

The tea export figures for the twelve months are listed below (in MT).   

MAJOR IMPORTERS OF SRI LANKA TEA – JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2023/2022 - in MT