Business

Sri Lanka’s Tea Exports Drop 6.2% in July 2024, But FOB Value Rises

Tea picker in a tea plantation in the ‘tea country’ of Sri Lanka, Asia, by documentary travel photographer Matthew Williams-Ellis

Sri Lanka’s tea exports in July 2024 totaled 21.35 million kilogrammes, marking a 6.2% year-on-year decline. While bulk and packeted tea exports showed negative variances, tea bags recorded a marginal gain compared to July 2023. The FOB value for July 2024 increased to Rs.1,773.70, up Rs.158.39 from the previous year.

From January to July 2024, cumulative tea exports reached 140.47 million kilogrammes, up by 5.48 million kilogrammes compared to the same period in 2023. Despite some categories like tea packets and instant tea showing declines, tea in bulk and tea bags posted positive variances. Notably, Iraq remained the largest importer of Ceylon Tea, with Russia and the UAE also contributing significantly to export growth.