Lanka nets Rs. 930m on tea exports to Japan

Sri Lanka earned Rs. 930 million by exporting tea to Japan up to November last year and the target is to increase the export earnings from Japan to one million this year.

During a recent visit to Japan Minister of Plantation Industries D. M. Jayaratne presented gold, silver and bronze medals to Sri Lankan tea importers in Japan. In addition the trade representatives of Japan had a discussion on the import of Sri Lankan Tea with the minister.

The Minister said that the percentage of black tea exported to Japan from Sri Lanka increased from 45% to 67% at the end of 2006 and it increases annually by 8-9 million kgs. Japan is one of the five major tea consuming countries and on average they consume 150 million kgs of tea annually. At their traditional tea ceremonies black and green tea is used prominently.

Japanese are also interested in flavoured tea, organic tea and gourmet packaged tea. At the meeting Japanese tea importers said that the minimum residual level of tea must be 0.001 as Japanese are very conscious of their health.

Therefore, they are looking for healthy tea from Sri Lanka said the importers. As Sri Lankan tea is prepared to European standards complying with the Japanese standards would not be an issue, said the minister.

The Minister said that Sri Lankan authorities should conduct workshops in Japan for consumers and importers about Sri Lankan tea to promote the tea further.