Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda yesterday expressed confidence of the industry finishing 2021 on a positive note. 

He told the Daily FT that targeted production of 300 million kilos and export earnings of $ 1.4 billion was achievable. “We are confident that the targets can be achieved despite the challenges,” Molligoda said.  In 2020, earnings from tea exports declined by 7.8% to $ 1.24 billion from $ 1.34 billion in 2019.

 Tea exports in the first half of this year grew by 14% to $ 650.5 million, as per provisional data released by the Export Development Board. 2021 performance is still trailing 2019’s figure of $ 685 million.

Tea production in the first half grew by 31 million kilograms or 24%, to 161.49 million kilograms – the highest recorded amount in the country’s history. (CdeS)

Sri Lanka FOB prices for black tea highest in the world