Sri Lankan tea output rose 13.9 percent on the year in November on suitable weather conditions and better fertiliser application, Sri Lanka Tea Board said on Wednesday. Tea output rose to 28.29 million kg from 24.83 million kg in November 2008.
Export revenue from the $40 billion economy's main agricultural export will be little more than last year's record $1.27 billion, and the annual crop may fall short of the Board's original forecast of 300 million kg due to a labour strike in September, Hettiarachchi said.
The Board expects full year production to be around 290-295 million kg, less than last year's record high of 318.5 million kg. Output for January-November fell 11.8 percent to 263.8 million kg. Earnings from tea exports in the first 10 months recorded a 12.7 percent drop to $963.4 million.