Sri Lanka's Tea Exports Decline in January–June

According to data from the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Sri Lanka exported 123,000 tonnes of tea in January–June 2026, a decrease of 3,710 tonnes compared with 127,000 tonnes in the same period of 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of approximately 2.9%. Export revenue stood at US$700 million, down 5.7% year on year, while the average export price was US$5.7 per kilogram, down 2.7% year on year. By category, only instant tea achieved year-on-year growth in both average export price and total volume.

In June alone, exports reached 21,300 tonnes, a decrease of 2,020 tonnes from 23,300 tonnes in the same month last year, down approximately 8.7% year on year. The average free-on-board (FOB) price was LKR 1,871.14 per kilogram (approximately US$6.34 per kilogram), up LKR 157.06 (approximately US$0.53) per kilogram year on year. By category, all tea categories except bulk tea saw varying degrees of decline in export volume. In rupee terms, export unit prices rose across all categories except instant tea; however, when converted into US dollars, export unit prices declined across all categories.