Sri Lanka tea output may hit record high

Sri Lanka's tea production in the first half jumped 26.2 percent from a year ago, suggesting the island nation's No 1 agricultural export may hit a record, the state-run tea board said on Friday. Tea output in the first half was 166.88 million kg against 132.25 million in the same period last year. In June, output rose 18.4 percent to 29.50 million kg from 24.91 million, the board data showed.
Favourable weather conditions, better fertiliser application, and good agricultural practices have helped boost production amid better export prices, he said. Output hit a record high of 318.7 million kg in 2008, but fell 9 percent to 289.8 million kg last year on adverse weather conditions and lack of fertiliser, along with a labour strike. The board had earlier expected full-year production to be between 300 million and 315 million kg with export revenues of around $1.3 billion.