Low Grown sector drives July tea market gains

The national tea sale average increased in July, supported by stronger Low Grown prices, although industry performance in US dollar terms continued to lag behind last year due to currency movements.

The national tea sale average rose to Rs. 1,176.10 (US$ 3.50) per kilogramme in July, reflecting an increase of Rs. 22.61 and US$ 0.05 compared to the June average of Rs. 1,153.49 (US$ 3.45). Compared with July 2025, the average was Rs. 48.50 higher in local currency terms, but US$ 0.24 lower in dollar terms.

The year-to-date national sale average reached Rs. 1,164.50 (US$ 3.63), recording an increase of Rs. 11.43 compared to the corresponding period last year, while remaining US$ 0.24 lower in dollar terms.

Low Grown teas continued to support the market, with the average price increasing by Rs. 33.65 month-on-month and Rs. 85.98 year-on-year to Rs. 1,293.06 per kilogramme. High Grown teas also recorded gains, rising by Rs. 12.70 from June and Rs. 26.58 compared to a year earlier, reaching an average of Rs. 1,061.95.

In contrast, Medium Grown teas remained under pressure, with the average declining by Rs. 2.62 from June and Rs. 27.96 from July last year to Rs. 953.94 per kilogramme.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board stated that cumulative averages for High Grown and Low Grown teas recorded positive variances in rupee terms, while all elevation categories recorded negative variances in US dollar terms compared with the corresponding period of 2025. Medium Grown teas remained the weakest-performing category, recording declines in both rupee and dollar terms.