National tea sales averages tumble across the board in April, YoY

Thursday, 8 May 2025 04:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s tea industry continues to feel the pressure, with national tea sale averages slipping for a second consecutive month in 2025, while the year-on-year (YoY) picture is equally concerning.

The National Sale Average for April dropped to Rs. 1,166.75 ($ 3.9), marking a decline of

Rs. 17.01 ($ 0.11) from March’s Rs. 1,183.76 ($ 4.02).

Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said in dollar terms, the April 2025 average of $ 3.91 records a decrease of $ 0.11 when compared to the March 2025 average of $ 4.02.

In comparison to the April 2024 average of Rs. 1,216.85 ($ 4.06), this shows a decline of Rs. 50.10 and $ 0.15 YoY, highlighting the growing challenges in maintaining price stability, despite favourable volumes and international demand for Ceylon Tea.

In terms of elevation-wise average for April 2025—high grown teas saw the steepest month-on-month (MoM) decline in April, dropping Rs. 43.78 and $0.20. The segment’s price performance remains underwhelming despite its premium profile.

Medium grown teas fared marginally better, where prices rose by Rs. 1.73 compared to March, but dropped $0.05 in dollar terms. Compared to April 2024, this elevation reported a decline of Rs. 9.89 and $ 0.03 signalling limited resilience in domestic currency terms, but more strain in dollar terms.

Low grown teas, the largest contributor to Sri Lanka’s total tea output also reported weaker returns with the average price falling by Rs. 7.67 and $0.08 MoM with a sharper YoY drop of Rs. 66.84 and $0.21.

Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said cumulatively, the national average for the first four months of 2025 stood at Rs. 1,176.10 ($3.96) down by Rs. 94.99 ($0.14) from the Rs. 1,271.09 ($4.10) registered during the same period last year.

From January to April 2025, all three elevations posted negative variances compared to the same period in 2024. Although declines in rupee terms were observed across the board, in dollar terms, only high grown teas managed to hold their ground, barely with $ 3.75 up by $0.02 compared to the average of $3.73 during the same period last year.

Medium and low grown categories reported notable reductions in average prices.

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