1Q tea output expands 6.2% YoY on broad elevation gains

Sri Lanka's tea production rose 6.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, supported by gains across key growing elevations, official data showed.

Total output for the January–March period reached 61.78 million kilograms, up from 58.17 million kilograms in the same period a year earlier. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, when production stood at 59.51 million kilograms, the 2025 figure marked a 3.8 percent increase. High and Medium Grown elevations recorded positive variances on a cumulative basis, while Low Grown teas and the Green Tea segment showed declines compared to the corresponding period in 2023, despite improving from 2024 levels.

March production alone totalled 24.43 million kilograms, a 24.8 percent increase from 19.57 million kilograms in the same month last year. Compared to March 2023’s output of 22.29 million kilograms, this year’s figure reflects a 9.6 percent gain. All elevations showed improvements over the previous year.