Crowning achievement in tea exports celebrated

The Tea Export Trade celebrated a landmark achievement in breaching the elusive US.$.1 Billion Value Barrier in the year 2007, for the first time in its 140 years history.

In the official statistics released recently, the value of Tea Exports in 2007 is shown to have recorded a 22% increase over the 2006 figure, by advancing from Rs.91.7 Billion to Rs.112 Billion; an outstanding performance!

This performance should be viewed with greater admiration, as it was achieved in the face of the most challenging circumstances.

The crippling work stoppage by the Plantation Labour Unions at the beginning of the year, coinciding with a severe drought, significantly impaired production, the ripple effects of which extended over a number of months.

The resilience of the Plantation Sector was manifested in the final crop figures for the year, which declined by only a mere 2%, to 304.6 million kgs, in comparison to the 310.8 million kgs. in 2006.