Tea crop down by 9 m kilos in 2015

Sri Lanka’s tea crop for December recorded a decrease of 0.79 million kilogrammes and finished the year with a deficit of 9.07 million kilogrammes in comparison to 2014. Produce broker John Keells Plc., said the final tally of 328.96 million kilogrammes registers a decrease of 2.68% when compared to the previous season. The High and Low Grown elevations recorded decreases of 7% and 3% in December whilst the Medium grown recorded an increase of 3%. “ W i t h the weather conditions in most planting districts reported to be dry with a few intermediate l o c a l i s e d showers experienced over the weekend, we do not expect the relatively healthy produc- tion levels to be maintained in the next two months of the first quarter of 2016,” John Keells said.