📉 Sri Lanka April Tea Production Drops 8.5% Amid Dry Weather

National tea output declined to 24.22 Mn/Kgs in April 2026, down from 26.47 Mn/Kgs last year. The decline is attributed to extreme drought and reduced fertilizer use by smallholders. • Overall Figures: April 2026: 24.22 Mn/Kgs (-8.5% YoY) Jan-Apr Cumulative: 83.94 Mn/Kgs (-5.3% YoY) • Sector Breakdown (April): Low Grown: 12.64 Mn/Kgs (-14.4% YoY) – Steepest decline due to weak smallholder performance. Medium Grown: 5.15 Mn/Kgs (-1.8% YoY) High Grown: 6.19 Mn/Kgs (-0.7% YoY) – Remained relatively stable. Green Tea: 0.24 Mn/Kgs (+8.3% YoY) – The only category to record growth. • Cumulative Performance (Jan-Apr): The total crop fell by 4.69 Mn/Kgs compared to 2025. Low Grown teas, critical for export diversification, saw a 6.1% cumulative drop to 48.73 Mn/Kgs. Medium Grown fell 6.7%, while High Grown declined 2.4%. • Key Highlights: The tea industry continues to face vulnerability from adverse weather. While April 2026 production is higher than 2024 levels (21.68 Mn/Kgs), the year-on-year contraction highlights ongoing pressure on smallholder output, which is vital for rural employment. _Data based on provisional figures from Forbes & Walker Research._