SL tea production hits lowest levels in August

Sri Lanka’s tea production in August hit the lowest levels since April this year due to extreme weather and low fertilizer application.
Asia Siyaka Tea Brokers stated in their report that 67 per cent of the crops loss in August came from the Low Grown sector, which declined 2.5 million kg compared to the same period last year.
During the period from January to August the country has lost 31.8 million kg year-on-year and during this year the 8-month quantity of 179.1 million kg was recorded as the lowest since 1997 when production declined to 178.8 million kg.
The January to August quantity for Low and Mid Growns are the lowest since 2009; and the High Grown figure is the lowest in more than 40 years when production slumped following the collapse of the tea market resulting from the global financial crisis. (SD)