|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 1 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Successful year for tea industry by Elmo Leonard Sri Lanka's tea exports realised Rs 65.9 billion in 2003, Rs 2.8 billion more than the 2002 figure, according to the latest statistics of the Sri Lanka Tea Board. Exports of tea in bulk in 2003 showed a decline in quantity, being 176.2 million kilos, from 188.1 million kilos in the preceding year. Value-wise, bulk tea exports for the year under review reached Rs 32 billion, down from Rs 32.9 billion in 2002. Earnings from packeted tea exports was Rs 32.9 billion, from Rs 31 billion in 2002. Earnings from tea bags reached Rs 7.7 billion, from Rs 6.9 billion in 2002. Sri Lanka's tea crop for 2003 recorded 303.2 million kilos, a decline of 6.8 million kilos over the all-time record production of 310 million kilos in 2002. The decline was largely due to the shortfall of tea from low grown plantations, following mid-year floods. Exports of tea in 2003 amounted to 298.3 million kilos which is an all-time record and an increase of 6.5 million kilos over that of 2002. Tea imported for re-exports, during the year, comprised 6.4 million kilos, which netted in Rs 2.7 billion to the country, compared to 2002's imports of 4.5 million kilos, which brought in Rs 1.9 billion. For 2003, tea in bulk averaged Rs 175.16 per kilo; in packets - Rs 221.45 per kilo; tea in bags - Rs 491.96 per kilo; instant tea - Rs 645.59 per kilo and green tea - Rs 501.40 per kilo. Russia and the CIS countries retained the No 1 position as Sri Lanka's leading tea buyers, purchasing 72.77 million kilos during the year, as against 69.27 million kilos during the previous year. Libya, in fourth position as a tea buyer, shows the highest growth rate of 256.9 per cent with imports of 19.5 million kilos during 2003. In 2002, Libya imported only 5.4 million kilos. Syria and UAE secured the second and third places, purchasing 28.6 million kilos and 27.8 million kilos respectively. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
