SL tea production hits 5-year high

Sri Lanka’s tea production has recorded an increase of 40 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to 2020, recording a 5-year high.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board releasing the preliminary tea production data for April stated that the quantity at 29.5 million kg is 42 per cent more than the drought and COVID shutdown-impacted figure of 20.8 million kg of last year during this period, Asia Siyaka Commodities stated.

High Growns recorded a sharp 64 per cent increase to reach 6.8 million kg compared with 4.1 million kg last year.

Low Growns reached 17.2 million kg and rose 27 per cent on the previous year’s figure of 13.5 million kg. Mediums are recorded as achieving 78 per cent increase compared to last year.

The production for the period January to April is at a 5-year high of 104 million kg; almost 40 per cent more than last year’s severe drought- impacted 4-month figure of 74 million kg.

Low Growns gained almost a month’s production year on year 2020 to reach 63.7 million kg. High Growns at 22.9 million kg and Mediums at 17.4 million kg are up 33 per cent and 38 per cent respectively on last year’s January to April figures. (SD)