Sri Lanka’s tea exports for January 2025 were 19.37 million kilograms, reflecting a growth of 0.61 million kilograms compared to the same period in 2024, when exports were 18.76 million kilograms.
The increase was mainly due to strong performance of tea packets, tea bags and instant tea categories, while bulk and green tea exports declined. In value terms, the free on board (FOB) price recorded for January 2025 was Rs. 1,722.78 per kilogram, down by Rs. 26.14. Exports in January 2024 were Rs. 1,748.92. However, in US dollar terms, there was a slight increase during the month, with the FOB price increasing by US$0.38 year-on-year.
Iraq led the way as the leading importer of Sri Lankan tea, with imports reaching 3.02 million kilograms, an increase of 21 percent from 2.50 million kilograms in January 2024. Russia, in second place, saw a slight decline of 11 percent, importing 1.77 million kilograms compared to 1.98 million kilograms in the previous year.
Libya moved up to third place with a staggering 406 percent year-on-year increase in January 2025, followed by the United Arab Emirates (1.27 million kilograms, a 36 percent year-on-year decrease), Turkey (1.08 million kilograms, a 37 percent year-on-year decrease) and Chile (0.78 million kilograms, a 24 percent year-on-year increase).
Saudi Arabia, in seventh place with 0.89 million kilograms, is ahead of China, which recorded 0.80 million kilograms, a 5 percent year-on-year increase. These shifts in key markets highlight the evolving dynamics of the global tea trade and Sri Lanka’s position in meeting changing international demand.
