Tea production up 23.4%

Tea production rose 23.4 percent to 195.1 million kilos during the first seven months of the year and could reach beyond 310 million kilos by the year end, an official of the Sri Lanka Tea Board said.

By Steve A. Morrell

An official of the Sri Lanka Tea Board said tea production for this year could exceed the 310 million kilos achieved several years ago after production during the first seven months reached 195.1 million kilos, a 23.4 percent increase from the corresponding period of 2009. Last year, total production amounted to approximately 275 million kilos.

He made these comments speaking to The Island Financial review and said these expectations would depend on how the weather held out for the reminder of the year.

During this seven month period, orthodox black tea production continued to dominate at182.3 million kilos.

While bulk teas continued to dominate exports, brokers said value added exports were increasing. They said it was imperative for the survival of the industry to engage in more value added exports.

Brokers said green tea was making inroads into the demand cycle with recent medical evidence suggesting that it could cure certain forms of cancer, and was also a post-curative agent.

Green Tea is now being offered at weekly auctions in Colombo. Green tea produced during the first seven months of this year amounted to 1.9 million kilos. The Tea Board said only about 12 tea factories mainly in the Central Hills, produced green tea.

Other category exported was 10.7 million CTC teas (cut twist and curl).

Low growns were still main produce leaders. To date, their contribution was 113.1 million kilos.

High growns, situated on the best tea land this country could lay claim to, produces only about 48.042 kilos.


source - www.island.lk