📈 Sri Lanka Tea Exports Drop 4.9% Amid Middle East Disruption

• Overall Figures: Jan-Jul 2026 tea export volumes fell 4.9% YoY to 143.51 Mn/Kg. Export earnings declined by $67 million to $817 million compared to $884 million last year, driven by weaker dollar realisations and shipping route disruptions. • Volume & Pricing Trends: Total Jan-Jul average FOB value dropped in dollar terms to $5.70/kg (down $0.16), though local rupee values rose to Rs. 1,826.16/kg. July alone saw a steep 15% monthly volume contraction to 20.41 Mn/Kg. • Key Markets & Shifts: Türkiye surged 138% to 24.76 Mn/Kg, emerging as the top buyer, alongside growth in Russia (+2.6%) and Saudi Arabia (stable at 4.8 Mn/Kg). Steep drops hit Libya (-58%), UAE (-58%), Iraq (-36%), and Chile (-24%). • Category Breakdown: Instant tea was the sole category to register positive volume variance, while Green tea was the only segment with a positive dollar value variance during the seven-month period.