Mixed brew for tea exports in April

The country’s tea exports industry produced mixed results for April with lower volume shipped and marginally higher in values.

Forbes and Walker Tea sources said tea exports for the month of April 2011 had improved only marginally by totalled 20.6 m/Kgs showing a marginal decrease of 0.7 m/Kgs vis-à-vis 21.3 m/Kgs of 2010.

However, total revenue of Rs.10.7 b realised in April 2011 show a marginal gain compared to Rs. 10.6 b realised in 2010. When analysing the category wise break down, tea in bags, green tea together with tea in packets show a growth YoY.

Cumulative exports for the period Jan-Apr 2011of 98.02 m/Kgs show a gain of 6.5 m/Kgs or 7.1% vis-à-vis 91.5 m/Kgs of 2010. In value terms too total revenue realised for the period of Rs.51.7 b show a significant gain or Rs. 6.1 b vis-à-vis 45.6 b of 2010. Here again tea in bags, green tea and tea in packets have shown a growth YoY.

In analysing the largest importers of Sri Lankan tea, CIS retains its position as the top importer followed by Iran and UAE. Other noteworthy importers are Turkey and Iraq. Japan too has shown significant growth YoY.