Thursday 24 December 2015

Treasury Bond Auctions held on 23 December 2015


Sri Lanka annual tea crop seen at three-year low

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s November 2015 tea crop was the lowest in seven years with the island’s annual output expected to be around 325 million kilos, brokers Asia Siyaka Commodities said.

The 2015 annual production would be more in line with the 2012 total of 327 million kilos and well below last year's figure 338 million kilos, the brokers said in a report.

“The projected loss of production is 12-13 million kilos with much of it coming in the third and fourth quarters.”

Sri Lanka November tea crop of 25.2 million kilos, 16 percent less than a year ago, was the lowest since 2008, Asia Siyaka Commodities said.

“Heavy showers, overcast conditions and almost a month of wet days restricted tea crop from most growing districts in November,” it said.

“In 2008, in the midst of financial turmoil, collapsed markets and related issues, Sri Lanka produced 24.8 million kilos. Since then the November tea production has been 27-30 million kilos.”

The report said that tea crops were lower in all three elevations in November 2015 with the higher elevations declining the most.

Tea production for January to November 2015 at 305.3 million kilos is the lowest since 2012, and 2.7 percent lower than the same 2014 period.