Tea Exports up in May despite FOB value dip; Türkiye tops importers list

Tea exports for May 2026 totalled 23.51 M/Kgs, an increase of 1.64 M/Kgs compared to 21.87 M/Kgs in May 2025. All categories recorded gains over the corresponding period of the previous year, except Green Tea.

The FOB value for May 2026 was Rs. 1,800.70, a marginal decline of Rs. 3.61 year on year compared to Rs. 1,804.31 in May 2025. In LKR terms, Bulk and Instant Tea recorded declines, while other categories showed positive variances against the same period in 2025. In USD terms, all categories recorded negative variances.

January to May 2026 cumulative tea exports totalled 101.85 M/Kgs, reflecting a decline of 1.43 M/Kgs compared to 103.28 M/Kgs in the corresponding period of 2025. All segments except Instant and Green Tea recorded negative variances over the same period.

The FOB value for the January to May 2026 period stood at Rs. 1,797.58 (USD 5.72), compared to Rs. 1,756.46 (USD 5.91) in 2025, an increase of Rs. 41.12, while reflecting a decline in USD terms.

Forbes & Walker Research noted that all segments except Instant Tea recorded gains in FOB value in LKR terms, while in USD terms all categories except Green Tea recorded negative variances.

Turkey ranked as the top importer of Ceylon Tea in May 2026 with 14.95 M/Kgs, up 159% year on year. Iraq ranked second with 11.82 M/Kgs, a decline of 18%. Russia followed in third place with 9.83 M/Kgs, up 8%.

Azerbaijan ranked fourth with 5.36 M/Kgs, up 69%, while China was fifth with 4.04 M/Kgs, down 4%. Libya followed with 3.79 M/Kgs, a decline of 60%.

Saudi Arabia ranked seventh with 3.62 M/Kgs, followed by Jordan in eighth place with 3.43 M/Kgs. The United Arab Emirates and Chile completed the top ten importers, with 3.38 M/Kgs and 3.35 M/Kgs respectively.