"It is reported that many plantations are currently recording intakes which are about 20 – 25 percent below the corresponding month of 2011, particularly in the Western High/Medium Grown sector."
The brokers said the March crop of 33.2 million kilos last year was one of the best on record.
"Going by present intakes there is very little chance of this year's March crop coming anywhere close to 2011."
The brokers said the erratic weather conditions are not confined to Sri Lanka alone with Kenya presently going through an extended dry period coupled with frequent frost attacks which has damaged thousands of acres of tea.
"The latest frost damage to tea is reported from the Nandi East region where green leaf processing has almost been brought to a standstill."
Asia Siyaka Commodities said crops in north-eastern India are also down owing to bad weather.“The tea industry has been hit by severe drought. Tea production in Assam and West Bengal for 2012 is set to register a sharp drop due to a prolonged dry spell and rising temperatures," the Indian Tea Association (ITA) said.
“Crop is estimated to drop by around 60 percent up to March compared with 2011. In Assam and West Bengal, it can therefore at best touch 20 million kg as against 46 million kg recorded for the corresponding period for 2011."
