Tea industry’s performance in 2018 and prospects for 2019

By Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers

Overview

Year 2018 began with a lot of optimism in the backdrop of an excellent year (2017) that was witnessed in terms of tea prices. The first quarter commenced on a high, with the quarterly auction average being recorded as the highest ever. However, as the year progressed, the Sri Lankan tea industry had to face numerous obstacles.

Consequent to banning of glyphosate by the Government of Sri Lanka, tea growers and large plantations, in particular, were forced to use alternative products for the control of weed growth, resulting in MCPA levels higher than permitted for exports to Japan.

As the year unfolded, purchases from Japan declined due to purchases/shipments being made only following prior testing for chemical residue levels. This brought about a market – unrelated to quality – with greater emphasis on the MCPA levels and its suitability for the Japanese market. 

In and around May, US sanctions on Iran were imposed which had a cascading impact on Auction prices in Colombo, particularly for the Low Grown (Tippy) teas. There was some optimism for tea prices to turn around towards June/July following the strengthening of oil prices and the weakening of the Sri Lankan Rupee. However, this too did not work out to be a reality following the weak economies in most Middle Eastern countries and Russia, resulting in currencies in the importer countries also depreciating against the US Dollar. 

During the second half of 2018, there was ample evidence of global production increasing significantly, primarily due to increased production in the African region. These increases did not reflect too adversely on Colombo Auction prices, as most of the increase comprised of CTC teas.

After much deliberation, stakeholders were successful in negotiating with the Government of Sri Lanka to remove the glyphosate ban through a Special Gazette dated 11 July 2018, a welcome relief to the industry. However, the modalities have taken a considerable period of time for these shipments to be available for the plantations on a regulated basis.

Commencing around September 2018, the Sri Lankan Rupee began to show a significant devaluation against the US Dollar, which possibly to some extent made Sri Lankan tea prices attractive to importers. Since then, we have seen reasonable momentum although the current Auction price levels are below the corresponding sales of last year by approximately Rs. 50 or $ 0.27 per kg. Cumulative Colombo Auction average up to the penultimate sale stood at Rs. 619.11 compared to Rs. 582.17 in 2017, a variance of Rs. 37 per kg.  A synopsis of the tea industry’s performance during the year 2018 is set out below.

The first quarter commenced with auction volumes maintaining 6-7 M/kg and as customary with the onset of the dry weather (end February), Auction volumes declined to 6 M/kg and below. 

During the period under review, total tea production was 73.8 M/kg compared to 66.8 M/kg in 2017, an increase of 7 M/kg (10%). All elevations recorded a gain, with the High and Medium Growns gaining more significantly.

Auction averages in the months of January/February continued to show further improvement on the corresponding period in 2017. Commencing March 2018, auction averages in all elevations began to record significant negative variances compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Buoyant prices maintained in the first two months helped the quarterly total auction average to show a gain of Rs. 21.74 over the corresponding period in 2017. 

Earnings from tea exports remained more or less static compared to the corresponding period in 2017 – Rs. 68.8 million in 2018 vis-à-vis Rs. 68.4 million in 2017.

The second quarter commenced with auction volumes maintaining at 6M/kg and increasing to7.5-8 M/kg by mid-May.

During the period under review, tea production declined 6.1 M/kg (6.8%) in comparison to the corresponding quarter in 2017. Interestingly, April/June showed a significant negative variance, whilst May recorded a 10% increase compared to May 2017.  Auction averages continued to decline with Medium Growns, in particular, recording the sharpest drop, quarter-on-quarter with a negative variance of Rs. 44.38. Consequently, the cumulative position eroded to a negative variance of Rs. 11.78 by end June. 

Earnings from tea during the period was recorded at Rs. 56.8 billion, marginally below the Rs. 57.7 billion in 2017. 

Third quarter commenced with auction volumes around 7 M/kg, which declined gradually and dropped to a low of 5.5 M/kg by end September sales. 

Tea production which totalled 64.5 M/kg vis-à-vis 76.3M/kg in the corresponding period in 2017, recorded a 11.7 M/kg negative variance (15%). 

Tea prices continued to weaken further with the total Auction average declining to Rs. 536.69 vis-à-vis Rs. 610.28 during the corresponding period in 2017 (11%).

Exports totalled Rs. 58.7 billion compared to Rs. 63 billion in 2017, a negative of Rs. 4.3 billion (7%). 

Interestingly, cumulative earnings up to end October totalled Rs. 192.4 billion vis-à-vis Rs. 194.3 billion in 2017, a negative of Rs. 1.9 billion (1%). 

Fourth quarter – Resulting in the production deficit as at end September, auction offerings during the fourth quarter under review, ranged between 5-5.5 M/kg in the early part and 6.5-7 M/kg in the latter part. 

The latest tea production statistics available for the month of October totals 29.6 M/kg versus 25.7 M/kg in 2017 (an increase of 3.8 M/kg – 14%).  

Considering that production up to October totals 251 M/kg and assuming that production in November/December would remain static around the 2017 figures, notwithstanding the labour unrest on plantations in the month of December and the curtailment of tea production, Sri Lanka is likely to achieve the 300 M/kg mark. A reasonable recovery from the disastrous 2nd and third quarters.

Comparison of auction averages continued to reflect significant negative variances vis-à-vis the corresponding period in 2017. Interestingly, auction averages during this period (fourth quarter) up to the penultimate sale of the year shows fair improvement on third quarter achievements. Details of which are set out in Table 1.

Sri Lanka macroeconomic update

We report below the key indicators of the economy.

Economic Growth:

As at the time of writing, we have only the results of the first half of the year. The overall annual growth is still around the same levels as were seen in the past couple of years. It is indeed promising to note that the Agriculture Sector has performed extremely well during the year, after two disastrous years. However, unfortunately, the Industrial Sector growth rates have declined significantly compared to 2017 and 2016, and the overall growth could not be accelerated beyond the present level. 

Agriculture Sector growth rates in the first two quarters of 2018 have seen a remarkable increase when compared against the previous two years. Paddy production can be identified as the major contributor for overall growth in the Agriculture Sector.

Inflation:

Inflation as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) was 0.9% in September 2018 and the 12 month annual average inflation as at end September 2018 was 4%. The rate of inflation in 2018 is lesser than 2017 where it was at 8.6% and the 12 month annual average inflation as at September stood at 6.8%. The NCPI was updated with 2013 kept as the base year and we have now seen a cumulative 24.4% increase in prices. It is to be noted that year 2017 was one of the highest contributors to this increase.

(Source – Central Bank of Sri Lanka/Department of Census and Statistics)

Interest Rates:

The treasury bills rates have increased in 2018 against 2017. And the average prime lending rates by banks too have increased gradually. However, bank deposit rates have declined over the last year. 

Exchange Rates:

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) depreciated against the major tea importing country currencies during the year. However, it appreciated against the Turkish Lira and remained the same for the Iranian Riyal.

Outlook for 2019

Predicting the market outlook for the year 2019 at this juncture amidst much uncertainty seems a hard task. Nonetheless, a logical approach would be to analyse the supply/demand scenarios that exist and project possible market scenarios based on the most recent developments in importer countries. In analysing the supply situation, it would be relevant to segregate CTC and orthodox tea production. Yet another factor that needs due consideration is the growing demand for tea in producer countries, which may leave lesser exportable volumes. 

Global production, in all probability, may show growth in 2018 once statistical data has been tabulated, which would essentially be of CTC origin. Orthodox tea production could be considered in short supply considering the decline in Sri Lankan tea production commencing 2016. 

Sri Lankan tea production in 2019, consequent to the Government’s decision to lift the ban on the use of glyphosate (weedicide) is likely to give much relief to the producers and in particular, to the large-scale plantations which would be able to carry-out the required agricultural practices to achieve the full potential of the plantations. Further the Government’s decision last month – to allow a more liberal policy on fertiliser – should contribute favourably. Needless to say, subject to extreme weather conditions not being a reality. However, ageing tea bushes and low productivity levels would be a downside. 

Similarly, India with its aged plantations is unlikely to show any significant improvement in its output. On the other hand, Kenya with its steady growth in production in the past several years is poised to achieve a 500 M/kg in 2018 and is likely to play a significant role when assessing the total global supply situation. 

Demand growth in China and India, considering the magnitude of these two markets, is likely to influence prices and consumption is expected to outstrip production. USA too could be singled out as a fast-growing market, particularly for instant tea and iced tea segments, whilst imports from Sri Lanka to the US have shown quite a significant growth in 2018.

 

Other factors that are likely to impact Sri Lankan tea prices

• As highlighted elsewhere in this report, Colombo Auction prices have shown a significant appreciation in the fourth quarter on the third quarter, particularly in respect of Leafy orthodox teas.
• Further, the first quarter traditionally is a low cropping period with enhanced product quality from most producer countries. This scenario will augur well for Small Leaf liquoring varieties that would be on offer.  
• Another important factor that might influence tea prices is the variation in exchange rates. The Sri Lankan Rupee, which was under severe pressure at the commencement of 4th quarter 2018, stabilised somewhat towards mid-December. If this trend is reversed and the previous depreciation pattern that was seen a couple of months ago is a reality, this too would help Colombo Auction prices in rupee terms. 
• Improved demand from Iran following the recent indications that tea would not be featured on the list of items attracting US import sanctions.
• Importers of orthodox teas are likely to have lower inventory levels in the backdrop of deficits accumulated since 2015.

These factors would enable us to predict an upward movement in prices, particularly in the first half for most varieties of orthodox teas. The market demand for teas thereafter, would greatly depend on how the global tea industry would progress during the first half. As we have periodically highlighted, market demand for good quality teas would command a premium consistently throughout the year.