Sri Lanka's tea exports fell about 5% year‑on‑year in the first eight months of 2026 to 166.3 Mnkg, with August shipments at 22.8 Mnkg. Rupee earnings held nearly steady at Rs.305.6bn, but US$ earnings slipped to about $948m amid higher freight and insurance costs and a lower average FOB.
High Grown tea production fell to 3.1 million kg in August 2026, the lowest monthly level in 34 years, cutting total national tea output 3.7% YoY to 18.9 million kg; Jan-Aug cumulative production is 172.2 million kg versus 176.9 million kg a year earlier.
High Grown tea output fell to 3.1 MnKg in August, the weakest monthly High Grown yield since 1992, as national production declined 3.65% YoY to 19 MnKg due to heavy rain and persistent cloud cover, Asia Siyaka and Forbes & Walker data show.
Tea & Plantation Crops
Daily FT·Sep 10, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
New Rothschild Tea Factory, managed by Browns Plantations, achieved a record price of Rs. 2,950/kg for PEK1 (Western Medium) at the weekly tea auction on 8-9 Sept. The lot was auctioned by Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC and purchased by Vintage Teas Ceylon Ltd.
Tea production fell 1.05% YoY in July to 21.26 MnKg, and cumulative January-July output dropped 2.62% to 153.14 MnKg, Forbes & Walker Research data show. Asia Siyaka warned a developing El Niño could further pressure production in August-September.
Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.40% to 22,218.06 at midday, with market turnover of Rs.1 billion and diversified financials leading turnover at Rs.263 million. Ceylon Tea Brokers said it will not proceed with the sale of DP Logistics and its shares were up 3.39% at Rs.12.20.