2018 National Sales Average of tea down Rs. 36.23

The National Sales Average (NSA) for tea in 2018 at Colombo auctions has declined by Rs. 36.23 or 6% to Rs. 581.91 per kilo from an all-time high of Rs. 618.14 in 2017. 

According to Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers, the NSA for High Growns for the period January-December 2018 of Rs. 571.51 was down by Rs. 29.42 per kilo. 

Medium Growns too averaging Rs. 521.86 per kilo was down by Rs. 41.68 in 2018 as against the previous year. Low Growns’ NSA totalling Rs. 600.79 in 2018 was down by Rs. 36.61.

Forbes and Walker said both the December month and 2018 cumulative averages show a greater decrease in USD terms compared to the corresponding period of 2017, with Sri Lankan Rupee depreciating sharply particularly in the last 4 months of 2018. 

In 2018 it was $ 3.59, a decrease of $ 0.52 as against $ 4.11 of 2017.