Sri Lanka’s tea crop dips 5% in April

June 7, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea crop for the four-months to April grew to an all time high of 2.9 percent or 108.52 million kilos, helped on by good rainfall, a commodity brokering house said Wednesday. Black tea production for April however, slipped 5-percent to 30.59 million kilos, Asia Siyaka Commodity brokers said.

“April 2005 was an all time record for the month and the current year’s production is only second to this,” the firm said.

The dry warm conditions in the higher elevations during April nipped away production of high grown tea varieties by 19.0 percent to 7.5 million kilos.

Tea output in March recorded a high of 29.1 million kilos and the April figure reflects a gain on this, explains Anil Cooke Senior Vice President of Asia Siyaka.

Sri Lanka, one of the top tea producers, faces stiff competition from Kenya for a slice in the global commodity race.

Kenya’s tea sector is just rebounding from a searing drought, with production of the country’s largest exports rising to 70.89 million kilos for the four-months to April.

Tea is Sri Lanka’s biggest single net foreign exchange earner – bringing in 814 million dollars in 2005 – after remittances from locals residing overseas.