|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Tea exports rise to record levels Sri Lanka exported a record 294.5 million kg of tea last year despite a decline in production, industry sources said. The country earned a record Rs.61.48 billion last year from tea exports, John Keells Teabrokers said. This feat was achieved despite a 10.8 million kg drop in production when compared with 2000. A seven year streak of record harvests ended with this shortfall. Tea production in the Low Country was maintained but harvests in the High Grown elevation declined by 7.7 million kg while the harvest in the Medium Grown elevation declined by 3.1 million kg. The main factor for the decline was the irregular weather pattern particularly in the second half of the year. Kenya which had two very poor cropping years in 1999 and 2000, witnessed a substantial increase in the output by 58.4 million kg to reach 294.6 million kg for the year. This is marginally below Sri Lanka's harvest, but marginally higher than Kenya's previous record harvest of 294.1 million kg achieved in 1999. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's tea export volume increase to 294.5 million can be attributed to the carry-over from the previous year. The drop in the harvest during the last few months of the year will be reflected in the current year's exports. During the year under review, tea exports in bulk accounted for 59.7 per cent, which compares with bulk exports of 63.4 per cent in the year 2000. It is a welcome increase in the value added exports. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) accounted for 63.8 million kg, which is 21.7 per cent of Lanka's total exports and continue to be the mainstay for its teas. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
