Sri Lanka's tea industry experienced a modest uptick in production during January 2024, expanding by 2.13 percent compared to the same period last year, with total output reaching 18.73 million kilograms.
However, green tea output witnessed a significant decline, dropping by 8.84 percent.
According to provisional data released by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Medium Grown elevation was the sole segment to register growth, with a 6.37 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 2.5 million kilograms. Conversely, production in other elevations saw dampened growth trends. High elevation output contracted by 1.2 percent to 3.5 million kilograms, while Low Growns experienced a 3.85 percent decrease, totaling 12.5 million kilograms.
Notably, green tea production faced the steepest decline, plummeting by 8.84 percent to 147,346 kilograms, indicating shifting consumer preferences or production challenges in this segment.
Comparing January 2024's production figures to the same month in 2022 reveals a notable decrease of 4.14 million kilograms, further emphasizing the industry's fluctuating dynamics and potential challenges in maintaining consistent output levels.
