Tea exports generate record earnings in 2008:

Akbar Brothers tops league of exporters

By M.K.M. Azwar, Moratuwa Central spl. corr.

Sri Lanka’s tea exports achieved an all-time record in 2008, with export earnings reaching Rs. 137.6 billion (US Dollars 1.26 billion). The volume of tea exports totalled 320 million kilograms. These statistics were revealed by the Sri Lanka Customs Data released recently.

Akbar Brothers topped the league of tea exporters with exports totalling 42 million kilograms.

Among the major packeted tea exporters during 2008 were Akbar Brothers with an export volume of 21 million kilograms, followed by Expo Lanka with 10 million kilograms and Jafferjee Brothers with nine million kilograms.

In the Tea bag segment, Akbar Brothers and the MJF Group became the leading exporters with an export volume of four million kilograms of tea bags each. Akbar Brothers are the largest exporters of value added tea products from Sri Lanka. In 2008, the Group exported 21 million kilograms of packeted teas and four million kilograms of tea bags. The volume of tea exports including bulk - blended teas made by the Group in 2008 totalled 42 million kilograms.