Tea crop dip in August worst in a decade

Sri Lanka’s tea crop has plunged to a 10-year low in August, further worsening the first eight months’ production.

Asia Siyaka Commodities, quoting Tea Board data, said that the crop in August was 23 million kilograms, down by 13% from a year earlier. “This year’s figure is the lowest since 2006 when 21.5 million kilograms was recorded,” the produce broker said. 

However, the August crop was an improvement from July’s take of 1.32 million kilograms.

Tea production from January to August 2016 is down 27 million kilograms or 12% to 198.6 million kilograms. “During the eight-month period the country has lost the equivalent of one month’s production,” Asia Siyaka Commodities added.

In August, Low Growns crop was down 12.6% and High Growns were down by 16%. 

In the first eight months, production of Low Growns was down by 11% to 123 million kilograms, High Grown was down 14% to 45 million kilograms and Medium Grown lower by 14% to 30.6 million kilograms.

Asia Siyaka Commodities said the High Grown crop this year so far was the lowest on record since 2000 while the Low Grown and Mid Grown figures too were the lowest since the post banking crisis and El Nino year of 2009.