Tea auction average slips Rs. 31 in June

Sri Lanka’s national tea sale average declined in June from the previous month, reflecting weaker prices across all elevations, although year-to-date averages remained marginally higher in rupee terms compared to 2025.

According to data compiled by Forbes & Walker Research, the national tea sale average for June 2026 stood at Rs. 1,153.49 per kilogram, down Rs. 31.07 from Rs. 1,184.56 recorded in May. In dollar terms, the average fell to US$ 3.45 from US$ 3.65 a month earlier.

Despite the month-on-month decline, the June average remained Rs. 50.22 higher than the Rs. 1,103.27 recorded in June 2025. However, in dollar terms, the average was US$ 0.23 lower than a year earlier, reflecting the impact of currency movements.

The decline in June was broad-based, with all three elevations reporting lower averages compared with May.

High Grown teas recorded the steepest monthly decline, falling Rs. 64.64 to Rs. 1,049.25 per kilogram, while Medium Grown teas dropped Rs. 53.74 to Rs. 956.56. Low Grown teas, which continued to command the highest prices among the three categories, eased by Rs. 12.61 to Rs. 1,259.41 per kilogram. On a year-on-year basis, High Grown and Low Grown teas posted gains in rupee terms, rising Rs. 52.40 and Rs. 72.02 respectively, while Medium Grown teas remained below last year’s levels.

For the first six months of 2026, the national tea sale average stood at Rs. 1,162.09 per kilogram, marginally above the Rs. 1,158.54 recorded during the corresponding period of 2025. In dollar terms, however, the cumulative average declined to US$ 3.66 from US$ 3.89 a year earlier.

The Tea Board data showed that only High Grown teas recorded a positive year-to-date variance in rupee terms, while Medium and Low Grown teas remained below their corresponding 2025 averages. All elevations recorded negative variances in dollar terms both for June and on a cumulative basis.