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Tea production in June was down all round except the High Grown Sector. Total production for the month dropped 5.5% from last year to 24.7 Million kg. However, in the previous year, production was only 23.5 Million kg. Hence, the plantations and the growers can be credited for an earlier than expected recovery from a disastrous May where, extreme weather conditions ravaged the main tea growing districts. Though June looks somewhat healthy, the loss sustained in May (6.6 Million kg yoy), which is usually a very high cropping month, is unlikely to be recouped.

High Grown Tea accounted for 32% of production in June with 7.8 Million kg, a growth of 3.8%. Mid Grown is down 11.9% to 4.2M kg, which is 17% of the total crop. Low Grown contribution is relatively lower from its potential to 51%, making just 12.6 Million kg, a drop by 8.3% in relation to June 2002. These figures, however, must be compared with 13.1 Million kg in May this year where the sector accounted only for 48% of the national crop. In 2001 June, Low Grown volume was only 12.3M kg.

Cumulatively from January, this year's production at 152.8 Million kg trailed last year by 6.39M kg (4%), which clearly underlines the possibility that the year end record production of 310M kg last year, is not to be touched this year.

High Grown, from January to June 2003 vis-a-vis 2002, is 2.2%, down to 45.2 Million kg whilst, Mid Grown and Low Grown are down to 28.6 Million kg and 78.9 Million kg, reflecting 1.4% and 5.8% drop respectively. (Source: John Keells Ltd).

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