SL Sept. tea exports similar to 2019 

Sri Lankan tea exports for September this year were similar to the same month last year with only tea bags recording a drop while all other segments have shown an increase year-on-year.
Tea broker Asia Siyaka’s report indicates that the January – September cumulative figure is still 10 per cent lower than last year with a recorded export quantity of 198.29 million kg. In value terms Rs.21.1 billion earned is about 1.1 billion more than September 2019. The cumulative figure however is about 7 per cent lower than January – September last year.
Turkey continues to be Sri Lanka’s best destination with a marginally higher quantity of 28.9 million kg up to end September. Similarly even though lesser volumes were imported, Iraq maintains its second spot with a quantity of 24.6 million kg as against 29.9 million kg of last year.
Russia once again has slipped to third position with a similar quantity of 22.5 million kg. Iran, even though Sri Lanka’s fourth destination, recorded a significant drop for the period with 12.2 million kg against 16.4 million kg last year.
Meanwhile, the report indicates that exports to China have improved with approximately 9 million for the period. The 7.8 million kg cumulative for Azerbaijan is about 8 per cent lower than last year.
Chile is a significant destination with 7.3 million kg recorded this year as against 4.97 million kg last year, a gain of about 47 per cent. The Syrian market has imported about 19 per cent less recording 6.3 million kg this year. UAE too has imported less with 5.9 million as against 7.5 million kg year on year. Germany is the country’s 11th destination with a quantity of 5.4 million kg which is about 4 per cent lower than the same period last year. Shipments to Saudi Arabia have gained 7 per cent at 5.2 million kg against 4.8 million kg. (SD)