Tea exports for the month of January 2014 totaled 21.8M/kgs vis-à-vis 22M/kgs of 2013, showing a marginal decrease of 0.2M/kgs. In value terms, however, total revenue Rs.15.1bn has shown a growth of Rs.2.3B vis-à-vis 12.8bn of 2013. Tea in bags have shown a growth in volume YOY, whilst tea in bulk and tea in packets have shown a decline in volume vis-à-vis 2013. CIS has retained the No.01 position as the largest importer of Sri Lankan tea, followed by Turkey and Iran. Other noteworthy importers are UAE, Iraq and Japan. Meanwhile, Forbes and Walkers said there was fair demand mostly at easier rates during the weekly tea auction last week where a total of 7.4M/kgs came under the hammer. Accordingly, Ex-Estate offerings recorded an increase over the previous week’s quantity and totaled 1.2M/kgs. “Overall quality of tea on offer from the Western Planting districts showed a slight decline, whilst teas from the Nuwara Eliya and Uva/Udapussellawa regions were fairly similar to last. A range of select best western BOP/BOPF’s sold at firm to dearer rates following quality with six (06) invoices selling at Rs.600 per kg and above, others together with the below best sorts declined up to Rs.20 per kg, whilst the plainer sorts declined Rs.10 per kg and more by the close,” the broker said. They noted that due to limited availability Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs met with excellent demand and sold at firm to dearer rates with prices ranging between Rs.500-580 per kg and Rs.520-530 per kg respectively. Uva/Udapussellawa BOP’s lost up to Rs.10 per kg, whilst the corresponding BOPFs declined up to Rs.20 per kg. CTC teas on average declined Rs.20 per kg. Liquoring leafy teas though sold well tended easier on the previous weeks price levels. There was much less activity from Shippers to the CIS, whilst Shippers to UK, Japan and the Continent bid selectively on better liquoring teas. Source: nation.lk/edition/biz-news/item/26431-tea-export-revenues-steady.html#sthash.Ip5oOUvz.dpuf