Month of August records lowest tea production in 28 years

Sri Lanka witnessed the lowest tea production in 28 years for the month of August, with the total output totalling 18.27 MnKgs.

When compared with the corresponding month of the previous year, the August 2022 output is 5.60 MnKgs lower. According to the data released by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, all elevations have shown a decline over the corresponding month of 2021. 

When compared with the 22.45 MnKgs of August 2020, August 2022 shows a decrease of 4.18 MnKgs. 

The analysis by Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers highlighted that the output is the lowest recorded for the month of August in a calendar year since 1994, where it recorded 16.20 MnKgs.

The cumulative analysis of the January to August 2022 period shows that production totalled 171.37 MnKgs, recording a significant decrease of 40.60 MnKgs.

“This would be the lowest recorded for the period under review since 1996, where it recorded 169.70 M/Kgs for the corresponding period. 

On a cumulative basis too, all elevations have shown a decline over the corresponding period of 2021,” Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.

When compared to 179.40 MnKgs of COVID-19-impacted January-August 2020, the cumulative production of 2022 shows a decrease of 8.03 MnKgs. On a cumulative basis as well, all elevations show a decline over the corresponding period of 2020. (Refer table).