COLOMBO: Customs data analyzed by Siyaka Research has confirmed that Sri Lanka exported 23.6 mnkg in November this year, up a sharp 16 percent on last year’s low drought restricted figure of 20.4 mnkg.
The November quantity is however the lowest since the May figure of 24.3 mnkg.
Going back five years from 2015, exports have been in the region of 26–28 mnkg in November. Exports for the period January – November 2017 have reached 265 mnkg, a figure even lower than last year’s drought restricted quantity of 266.1 mnkg. The figure is the lowest since 2000.
Export earnings are however at a record high of Rs.213.8 billion or approximately US $ 1.4 billion due to higher tea prices in the global market place. These earnings convert to an approximate FOB value of a highest ever US $ 5.29 per kg and a record rupee value of Rs. 807.12 per kg. Sri Lanka exported 57 percent of all teas in value-added form, a proportion equal to last year. Contributing to the value-added segment, packet tea comprised 46 percent, tea bags 8 percent, instant tea 1 percent and green tea 2 percent.
Russia/CIS countries are the leading cluster of markets with imports of 49.2 mnkg accounting for 19 percent of all tea exports from Sri Lanka. Last year‘s figure was marginally higher at 49.4 mnkg.
Within this cluster, Russia imported 31 mnkg and accounted for 12 percent of all imports. Russia/CIS are also the second largest market for tea bags, with imports of 1.19 mnkg, whilst Australia is the prime destination with an absorption of 1.75 mnkg.
Exports through Turkey has risen sharply to 35 mnkg (13 percent), up 43 percent on last year’s quantity of
24 .7 mnkg. This market is followed closely with exports to and through Iraq, 31.3 mnkg against 30.8 mnkg a year ago. Direct shipments to Iran have dropped sharply by 20 percent YoY 2016 from 31.3 mnkg to 24.9 mnkg. The U.A.E handled 14.5 mnkg and Libya 11.5 mnkg. Exports to China have grown to 8.9 mnkg from 6.9 mnkg.
Japan has increased to 7.15 mnkg from 7.03 mnkg. Syria has declined 40 percent from 11.1 mnkg to 6.6 mnkg this year. Chile has grown from 5.9 mnkg to 6.4 mnkg and is followed by Germany at 6 mnkg; down from 6.4 mnkg last year. Hong Kong has grown from 4.1 mnkg to 4.6 mnkg.
