Category: Agriculture

Plantation workers are the poorest segment in the country despite tea being an export crop and heavy private sector involvement in its trade. Government divested ownership in plantation companies in the early 1990’s which led to productivity gains and some improvement in living conditions of workers. But incidence of poverty in estates increased during the […]

Russians are paying more for a good cuppa, spending an average US$ 1.82 this year, up from US$ 1.69 in 2004. Asia Siyaka Commodity Brokers in its weekly tea report quoted head of the Rusteacoffee industry lobby Ramaz Chanturiya saying that tea consumption in Russia will remain stable in the foreseeable future, but the share […]

The Sri Lankan tea industry could be warming up to blending imported teas, not to lose out on a price driven global market place. Sri Lanka, which has a lobby against blending imported teas saw imported teas for re-export grow to 6.4 mn kilos up to Aug 25 form about 4 mn kilos in 2003. […]

Sri Lanka’s tea exports have not caught up with its fast growing production this year, with the difference between the two quantities notching up to 27 million kilos, up from an average 10 million kilos in other years. Industry watchers however say the extra teas could be absorbed in the current winter buying.The higher than […]

A renovated old tea factory is now housing the one of the most unique industry related museums for tea close to the Kandy town.The venture is supported by all tea related industry associations with some of them extending even financial support. Its promoters say the museum is part of efforts to lift the industry image […]

Weekly tea prices are slowly edging up, with this weeks auction pushing the monthly average to Rs. 188.43, up from Rs. 181.24 in late August. The annual average however is only some 45 cents higher from late August at Rs. 180.45. Industry watchers say prices will improve further in the coming weeks, especially with the […]

India has called for duty free access for its teas into Sri Lanka under the latest round of CEPA talks that concluded in end August. A weekly Asia Siyaka Commodities report said India is asking for duty free access for green and black teas in three kilos and larger pack sizes. The Siyaka report said […]

India has called for duty free access for its teas into Sri Lanka under the latest round of CEPA talks that concluded in end August. A weekly Asia Siyaka Commodities report said India is asking for duty free access for green and black teas in three kilos and larger pack sizes. The Siyaka report said […]

Sri Lankan tea is facing increased competition form other tea producing countries with lower costs of production and younger plantations. Emerging tea producing countries are also testing the waters for stronger brand building and marketing.Indonesia, Argentina, Malawi, Tanzania, though not new to the tea trade are steeling a march over Sri Lanka on price, with […]

CTC tea prices are picking up again after a four month lull, with winter buying nearing and quality levels improving. Sri Lanka’s long April and May holiday season is blamed, which annually contributes to a quality drop and a subsequent backlog of made teas.CTC tea prices were at Rs. 154 at this week’s auction, down […]

Sri Lanka’s tea crop grew by a marginal 4 million kilos over 2004, despite the country’s low grown sector still recovering from the December tsunami devastation.Tea production in May at 31.5 million kilos tips 2004’s 30.4 million kilos output, but falls short of the all time high of 33.6 million kilos posted in 2002. May’s […]

Industry analysts say receding tea consumption in traditional markets could be negated if new markets are actively tapped for business.A recent study in Britain, the very nation that propagated the tea plantations in the mid 1800s, found that the brew was loosing flavour with the new generation of Brits. Over the last five years total […]