Tea output edges up in 2025 despite weather shocks, fertiliser constraints

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 02:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Production up 0.54% YoY to 264.1 MnKg in 2025
High Grown tea drives growth, increasing output by 1.3% YoY to 56.4 MnKg
Mid Grown tea expands by 1.5% YoY to 48 MnK
Low Grown tea stagnates at 159.6 MnKg, matching previous year’s output

Sri Lanka’s tea industry registered only marginal growth in 2025, with production inching up 0.54% year-on-year (YoY) to 264.1 million kilograms (MnKg), underscoring the sector’s continued struggle to regain momentum amid deep-rooted structural pressures.

An industry report released by Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, citing official data from the Sri Lanka Tea Board noted that while the overall output showed nominal growth, the performance masked sharp structural challenges faced by the sector during the year, including reduced fertiliser usage by smallholder farmers and extreme weather disruptions culminating in Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025.

Production gains were largely driven by High Grown and Mid Grown teas, which registered modest, but meaningful improvements over the previous year. High Grown tea output increased by 1.3% YoY to 56.4 million kilograms in 2025, whilst Mid Grown production rose by 1.5% to 48 million kilograms, up from 47.3 million kilograms a year earlier.

In contrast, Low Grown tea production remained stagnant at 159.6 million kilograms in 2025, unchanged from 2024 levels, underscoring persistent productivity challenges in the country’s largest producing elevation category.

The report also attributed the subdued overall growth primarily to reduced fertiliser application by smallholders, who account for a significant share of national tea output and prolonged adverse weather conditions throughout the year.

These pressures were exacerbated toward the end of 2025 by Cyclone Ditwah, which further disrupted harvesting and field operations, limiting the sector’s ability to achieve a stronger recovery.

Despite the slight improvement, industry analysts note that the 2025 production figure remains well below Sri Lanka’s historical potential, highlighting the need for policy support, improved input availability, climate resilience measures, and renewed productivity initiatives to sustain the country’s position in the global tea market.