Tea exports record a decline in February

• All main categories record declines
• Iraq, Russia and UAE emerge as top importers 
• Exports to Turkey and Syria down

Tea exports across all product segments contracted for the month of February. The quantities exported totalled 21.14 MnKgs, a 2.02 MnKg dip when compared with the quantities exported in Feb 2021.

Customs data showed that all main categories:bulk tea, packeted tea and tea bags, have shown a decrease when compared with the corresponding month in 2021.

On a cumulative basis too quantities exported show a contraction. For the January-February 2022 period, Sri Lanka exported a total of 40.53 Mnkgs of tea. This is a decrease of 3.46 Mnkgs when compared with the 43.99 Mnkgs exported during the January-February 2021 period. Here again, all main categories of exports show a decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2021.

In terms of market, Iraq emerged as the largest importer of Ceylon Tea for the month of February.

Imports of Ceylon Tea to Iraq increased by 77 percent year-on-year (YoY). Russia ranked as the secondlargest importer, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the thirdlargest market for Ceylon Tea. 

Ceylon Tea Exports to the UAE expanded by 57 percent YoY. Libya has moved up to the fourth position having increased imports significantly (34 percent YoY) and Azerbaijan has emerged as the fifth largest with a YoY growth of 8 percent. Other notable importers are Turkey, China, Iran, Saudi Arabiaand Chile. Meanwhile, imports from destinations such as Turkey have dropped by a significant 69 percent. The market has moved down to the sixth position from the first position it occupied in 2021. Syria too dropped to 14th position from the seventh position it occupied in the previous year, with a decrease of 61 percent YoY.