August National Sales Average for tea eases

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The National Sales Average (NSA) of tea edged lower in August from the previous month and remained below its year-ago level, although the cumulative average for the first eight months of 2026 continued to exceed the 2025 figure in rupee terms, according to Forbes & Walker Research.

The National Tea Sales Average for August 2026 was Rs. 1,174.46 ($ 3.53) per kilogram, compared with Rs. 1,176.10 ($ 3.50) in July, reflecting a month-on-month (MoM) decline of Rs. 1.64 but a $ 0.03 increase in US dollar terms.

Compared with August 2025, when the NSA stood at Rs. 1,182.27 ($ 3.92), the August 2026 average was lower by Rs. 7.81 and $ 0.39.

For the first eight months of 2026, the NSA stood at Rs. 1,165.66 ($ 3.62) per kilogram, compared with Rs. 1,156.37 ($ 3.87) during the corresponding period of 2025.

This represented a year-to-date (YTD) increase of Rs. 9.29 in local currency terms, while the US dollar-denominated average was $ 0.25 lower.

Among the three elevation categories, High Grown teas recorded an August average of Rs. 1,057.06, down Rs. 4.89 from July and Rs. 49.14 from August 2025. In US dollar terms, the average increased by $ 0.02 MoM to $ 3.18, but was $ 0.49 below the corresponding month last year.

The cumulative High Grown average for 2026 stood at Rs. 1,109.75, Rs. 35.14 above the corresponding 2025 average of Rs. 1,074.61. In dollar terms, however, the cumulative average declined by $ 0.15 to $ 3.45.

Medium Grown teas recorded a marginal MoM increase of Rs. 0.88 to Rs. 954.82 in August, while the dollar average rose by $ 0.03 to $ 2.87. Compared with August 2025, however, the category was lower by Rs. 74.28 and $ 0.54.

On a cumulative basis, Medium Grown teas remained the only elevation category to record a decline in rupee terms, with the average falling Rs. 41.80 to Rs. 980.26 from Rs. 1,022.06 during the corresponding period last year. The dollar average declined by $ 0.38 to $ 3.04.

Low Grown teas recorded an August average of Rs. 1,276.83 ($ 3.84), down Rs. 16.23 and $ 0.01 from July. Compared with August 2025, the rupee average was Rs. 25.74 higher, although the dollar equivalent was $ 0.31 lower.

For the first eight months of 2026, the Low Grown average stood at Rs. 1,241.30, Rs. 13.26 above the corresponding 2025 average, while its dollar-denominated average declined by $ 0.26 to $ 3.86.

Forbes & Walker Research said the cumulative National, High Grown, and Low Grown averages recorded positive variances in rupee terms compared with 2025, while Medium Grown teas recorded a decline. In US dollar terms, all three elevations and the NSA remained below their corresponding 2025 levels.