Sri Lanka Tea Registers Highest Increase

Coonoor: Sri Lankan teas hiked the most in the first five months of this year compared with the same period a year ago. An analysis of the market trends of the various auction centres shows that in Indian rupee terms, the average price fetched at Colombo auctions was Rs 97.67 against Rs 83.23 last year. Prices rose against tight supplies as the production fell by 18 million kg (mkg) to drop to 120 mkg. The second highest increase was at Jakarta sales where the prices averaged Rs 62.96. Indonesian output increased by 3.3 mkg to reach 28.8 mkg. The combined analysis of the Indian sales as a whole shows an increase of Rs 3.35 a kg to Rs 63.48. In the South, prices rose by Rs 5.10 a kg to Rs 54.82. In the North, the increase was only Rs 1.40 to Rs 67.56.