Sri Lanka’s annual tea production of 278.4 million kilograms in 2020 was the lowest on record since 1997 and a significant drop compared to 2019’s 300 miliion kilograms. The lowest on record was in 1997 when 276 million kilograms was produced, Asia Siyaka Commodities report stated.
“Climate change has played a part in a shrinking national harvest which peaked at 340 million kilograms in 2013. Since then, it’s been a steady slide but the 2020 crash cannot be attributed entirely to the hot, dry conditions experienced from January to April, thereafter the weather improved and crops were increasing when high grown production was disrupted by workers who stayed away mourning the passing of their senior union leader,” the report stated.
Turkey was the highest buyer of Ceylon tea amounting to 38.8 million kilograms with Iraq coming in next at 33.3 million kilograms and Russia and Iran purchasing 29.6 million kilograms and 15.1 million kilograms respectively. China had purchased 14.1 million kilograms last year.
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