- Sri Lanka Tea Board

Tea Market Update
V o l u m e
1 0
N o
4
O c t o b e r - D e c e m b e r
2 0 1 4
Ceylon Tea -Now a U$1.6 billion dollar industry

Sri Lanka’s total tea
output reached 338.4
million kilograms in
2014.

Sri Lanka’s tea exports have increased
by 2.4% on the back
of increased production and higher demand by Middle East
Gulf and some expansions in premium tea
markets in European
and Asian countries.

Global tea production remained stagnant backed by
gloomy weather and
lower average prices
in major tea auctions
except Sri Lanka.
Tea Production
2
Tea Marketing
3
Tea Exports
4
Global Tea Scene
6
Sri Lanka established a record by surpassing
U$ 1.6 billion dollars in foreign exchange earnings in tea exports though it faced lot of constrains during latter part of the year 2014..
When we consider the fact that this was
achieved in the highest ever export volume registered per year is indeed a significant achievement in the 148 years old history. In fact Sri
Lanka became the first producing country to
achieve this feat. This reveals that the increased
exports price also was the direct contributory
factor for high export earnings. In Sri Lankan
Rupee terms too tea export earnings reached a
milestone by surpassing 212 billion rupees for
the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka tea
industry.
There are many factors that contributed to this
remarkable achievement. One significant factor
is the high quality of Ceylon teas exported and
a large volume of teas fetching prices at the
higher end of the price spectrum.
Sri Lanka always maintains high standards in
the quality of her tea exports in keeping with
the consumer needs. All exporters are advised
to adhere to international quality standards
such as ISO 3720, ISO22000, HACCP and also
adherence to MRLs. Teas with Lion Logo
which is the indication of ‘Pure Ceylon Tea’
exported from Sri Lanka ensures
the highest quality for a consumer as it is
monitored at every stage of its product line for
the above quality standards and value added
exports always give a boost for increased
foreign exchange earnings of a country.
The second factor that pushed up the exports
earning of tea during 2014 is the exports of
“orthodox” value added teas that is unique
characters derived from fourteen decades of
expertise manufacture in Sri Lanka tea industry. Even though neither the total volume nor
the proportion exported in value added form
are the highest so far, the exports earning in
dollar terms is the highest ever recorded. Exports volumes of tea and instant teas were all
time
records although there was a drop in
exports of green tea. The main destination of
tea bags was the Russia/CIS countries.
The highest average unit FOB value of US$
4.9/kg reached in 2014 may have been partly
due to the below production recorded in seven
months compared to last year pushing the
marketable surplus down. This too may have
contributed indirectly to the high export price
as there was a scarcity in the Orthodox tea
market.
Cont. in page 5 ….
General Overview
Trade Fair Participation
7
News in Brief
7
Research
8
Update
Editor-Sampath Perera
E-mail
[email protected]
Web-site
www.pureceylontea.com
Economy
Tea industry
Sri Lanka registered by 7% growth in exports
in all sectors during the year in spite of
agricultural production and exports decrease
in fourth quarter due to dry weather prevailed
in 2014 compared to last year. Industrial
exports represented 66% from the total
exports and rest contributed by agricultural
exports specially tea and coconut products.
Inflation maintained single digit level and
Rupee depreciated marginally during the
quarter.
Increased tourist arrivals, workers remittances
and decrease of world oil prices kept Sri
Lanka’s economy in a healthy position and
growth of the economy maintained by above
7% level 2014 also.
The fourth quarter in 2014, tea industry withered due to gloomy dry weather as well as
prices fetched at lower level than first three
quarters at Colombo tea Auction. Depreciation
of Ruble currency in Russia against U$ dollar
by 50 percent and crude oil barrel lowered to
US$ 50 and internal conflicts in Syria and Iraq
decreased the demand of Ceylon tea.
Hence green leaf rate per kilogram reduce significantly in low grown tea manufacture hitting
small holding sector severely. High grown escaped narrowly above the cost of production
level but Medium grown plantations faced difficult period for cash flow constrains due to low
price fetched at Auction.
………..Cont. in page 5
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
+
2
Tea Production
Sri Lanka’s tea production has fallen by nearly 9 per cent or
8 Mkgs in the fourth quarter this year compared to the same
period in 2013. The Low Grown production of 51Mkgs is
lower by about 8.5 per cent, whilst the Medium Grown figure of 11.67 million kg is lower by about 21.7 per cent and
the High Grown figure of 0.25 million kg is slightly lower
by about 1 per cent for the year-on-year .
Table 1 - Tea production during the fourth quarter
2014/2013(Million kg).
Oct - Dec
2014
2013
High
19.53
19.77
Medium
11.67
14.91
Low
50.80
55.55
Total
82.00
90.23
Processing Method
76.01
83.05
Orthodox
5.20
6.15
CTC
0.79
1.04
Green Tea
Total
82.00
90.23
Category
Change
Qty
%
-0.24
-1.21
-3.24
-21.73
-4.75
-8.55
-8.23
-9.12
-8.48
-15.45
-24.04
-9.12
-7.04
-0.95
-0.25
-8.23
With fourth quarter crop figures, cumulative production for
the year 2014 registered 338 million kg which is lower by
about 1 per cent on the 340 million kg of last year level.
Reviewing the total production for the year, Medium
Grown production of 49.2 million kg is lower by about 6.42
per cent on the 2013 figure of 52.58 million kg. Despite the
fact that Low Grown to date quantity of 209.95 million kg
compensated the deficit of the total production to some
extent having more to the last year production total of 208.2
million kilograms helped by tea small holding sector performance.
Chart 1 - Cumulative and monthly tea production
Jan-December 2014/2013 (Units :Mkg)
Total
Production.
(MKg)
Monthly
production
(MKg)
341
45
Table 2.- District wise tea production
as at December 2014/2013(Kg)
ADMIN. DISTRICT
COLOMBO
2014
2013
683323
Growth
645206
38117
Growth %
5.91
265,549
256603
8946
3.49
MATALE
2,840,593
2234114
606479
27.15
KEGALLE
9,275,415
11655127
-2379712
-20.42
KALUTARA
18,222,195
18679112
-456917
-2.45
KANDY
32,869,154
34165968
-1296814
-3.80
BADULLA
28,981,811
30350239
-1368428
-4.51
MATARA
44,141,099
44789512
-648413
-1.45
GALLE
52,413,330
53126548
-713218
-1.34
RATNAPURA
74,814,921
71230339
3584582
5.03
NUWARA ELIYA
73,524,192
73096261
427931
0.59
Total
338,031,582
340,229,029
-2,197,447
-0.65
HAMBANTOTA
0
When the tea production in various districts are
concerned it is evident from above table 2. Rathnapura district ranked the first place with increased
production of 74.8 million kgs compared to last
year figure of 71.2 million kgs. Nuwara Eliya
district registered the second place at highest production list with same production registered this
year also.
Tea Marketing
The year 2014 started with the buoyant average
price level of around Rs 480 per kilogram and continued during the first seven months of the year.
The price hike mainly attributed to the unusual
demand created for premium orthodox tea though
production increased locally and in other black tea
producing countries significantly.
40
35
340
30
25
339
20
15
338
10
5
337
0
Total Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Total - 2013
Jul
Total - 2014
Aug Sep
Oct
2013
Nov Dec
2014
As far as the processing methods are concerned, CTC and
Green tea production decreased similar pattern whilst CTC
registered worst among other two methods.
As illustrated in table 4, fourth quarter average tea
sales price registered a decrease level of Rs. 443.72
per kilogram in terms of unit price recording a 10%
decrease. In US dollar terms too it was lover to
$3.40 from last year same period level of U$ 3.77
per kilogram. But this is the highest price achieved
among all tea auction centers in the world. The
quantity of teas sold however
declined slightly from 79.2
million kilograms to 79.1 million kilograms compared to
last year same period.
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
Table 6- Grade wise quantity sold and price
comparison during the 4th quarter 2014.
Table 3 –Teas Sold and prices fetched in
fourth quarter 2014/2013
Grades
Elevation
ORTH-FBOPF1/FBOPF
Qty
Price
Price
Qty
Price
Price
(MKg) (SL Rs) (US$)
(MKg) (SL Rs) (US$)
ORTH-FBOP1/FBOP
426.59
444.54
High
16.3
3.27 16.8
3.39
ORTH-BOPF
Medium
11.8
405.95
3.11 12.79
436.83
3.33
ORTH-FOP/OP1/OP
457.97
525.7
Low
51.0
3.51 50.13
4.01
ORTH-FP/PEK
ORTH-OPA
443.72
494.34
Total
79.1
3.40 79.72
3.77
The Colombo Tea Auction sold the highest quantity of ORTH-PF/FNS/FNS1
337.48million kilograms for the year as against last ORTH-BP/BM
year volume of 336.48million kilograms. For this vol- ORTH-BOP
ume tea manufactures and leaf suppliers received ORTH-BOP1A
Rs.156 billion and higher portion disbursed to low ORTH-DUST1
grown tea sales.
ORTH-PEK1
Sales through Private and Direct sales registered slight
ORTH-BOP1
decrease compared to last year and average prices in
these two channels increased moderately. It is depicted ORTH-BOPS
ORTH-FBOPFSP/EXSP
in table 3.
CTC TEA
Table 4:Teas sold and prices fetched in Trading
channels 2014(Qty:Mkg, Price Rs./Kg)
OTHERS
Total
Different
2014 fourth quar2014
2013
As at December 2014
ter
Channel
Qty
Price
Qty
Price
77.78
442.04
331.71
461.36
Private Sales
0.90
510.72
3.71
505.26
Direct Sales
0.44
601.33
2.07
643.27
79.12
443.72
337.48
462.96
Public Auction
Total
3
Sold Qty (Kgs) Avg. Price
530.05
9430447
467.98
6503147
433.24
7371366
440.10
7168718
465.83
6249296
380.53
5495941
321.80
4019326
307.86
4623047
477.03
3582155
305.53
4133432
427.89
3018798
541.16
3253343
468.08
2107615
543.40
1004465
854.16
840059
450.90
4258536
462.58
6065235
79,124,924.97
443.72
Table 6 above shows that the highest quantity of
9.4Mkgs or 12% offered to Colombo Tea Auction
by Orthodox FBOPF1/FBOPF grade teas and
fetched buoyant average price level of Rs.530.05/Kg
during the fourth quarter. And other main grades of
Orthodox Pekoe, BOPS and FBOPFSP/EXSP realized above average level of Rs. 500/Kg. Orthodox
PF/FNS/FNS1,BP/BM,BOP1A, and OPA grade teas
fetched below the Rs.400/Kg level and represented
23% from the total sales for the fourth quarter. Rest
of the grades realized in between Rs. 400-500/Kg
level and this volume represented 58 % from the
total sales volume.
In addition to further average price analysis for the
whole year, sub district of Udapussellawa and Uva areas recorded significant price improvement while other
sub district’s prices improved slightly. It is depicted in
table 5.
In respect of this orthodox auction average, the
Table 5– Sub district Auction average price
green tea auction average fetched Rs.488 per kilocomparison during the year 2014/2013 (Rs/Kg) gram for 0.35Mkgs. Gun powder was the most
traded grade and volume registered as 0.1Mkgs for
January to December 2014
Price
the average price of Rs 585 per kilogram.
Sub District
change Change %
2014
2013
per kg
The volume of 4.2Mkgs was sold in CTC grades
Nuwara Eliya
437.27 415.13
22.14
5.33
and average price registered at Rs.450 per kilogram.
Westerns (8 areas)
434.76 416.92
17.84
4.28 CTC grade of PF1 was recorded as most traded volMediums(9 areas)
408.96 397.23
11.73
2.95 ume of 2.68Mkgs at a average price of Rs.465 per
Uda Pussellawa(2
kilogram. Orthodox organic tea
381.14 349.32
31.82
9.11
areas)
grades registered at a Rs.669
Uvas(8 areas)
438.29 404.22
34.07
8.43 per kilogram and Silver tips and
Golden Tips recorded lower
Low Growns(10
494.76 474.70
20.06
4.23 average price compared to third
areas)
quarter and last year same
Average price
462.96 444.75
18.21
4.09
period level.
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
4
Tea Exports
P AG E
4
It was a dismal quarter in respect of the FOB value that
realized for tea. The FOB target of US$ 5.00/kg was
decreased to U$ 4.7/Kg, well below the 2013 FOB value of
U$5.19/Kg for the fourth quarter. Hence, quarter earnings
from tea exports decreased to Rs 53.87billion though we
exported more than the last year same quarter volume of
85.16 Mkgs. This is a decrease of Rs. 3.7 billion or 6% despite the fact that an increase the volume exported by
nearly 0.8Mkg as against the previous year same quarter.
Unit average F.O.B. price of Rs.626.57 or US 4.7 dollar
per kilogram fetched during the fourth quarter was unpredicted and was the main cause for this decrease of earnings
attributed to economic instability, reduction in oil prices,
and internal conflicts in major Ceylon tea destinations. This
is depicted in the table 7.
Table 7 - Export Statistics for each month during
the fourth quarter Units : Qty - Mkg, FOB - Rs./Kg
Category
2014
Qty
2013
FOB
Qty
Change
FOB
Qty
FOB
October
27.24
643.73
28.89
666.16
-1.65
-22.43
November
28.97
621.91
27.27
692.62
1.7
-70.71
December
Total
29.76
615.41
29.00
669.28
0.76
-53.87
85.97
626.57
85.16
675.69
0.81
-49.12
Although we experienced depressing period in fourth quarter, earnings from tea exports reached an all time high of
U$ 1600 million dollars in 2014, up 4% on the 2013 figure
of U$1540 million dollars while quantity exported was also
registered a all time record of 327.34Mkgs in its history.
Table 8. - Category wise tea exports and total tea
exports during the year(2014/2013) FOB : Rs./Kg,
Category
Bulk
Packets
Tea Bags
Instant Tea
Green Tea
Sub Total
Re-Exports
Total
Qty
184.10
103.18
25.46
2.20
2.94
317.88
9.46
327.34
2014
FOB
568.59
628.49
1099.24
1102.23
1213.04
640.19
960.24
649.44
Value
104678
64848
27988
2424
3569
203507
9081
212588
Qty
190.51
92.60
23.21
1.95
2.87
311.14
8.52
319.66
2013
FOB
540.7
612.45
1097.64
1026.70
1253.15
613.23
1014.14
623.91
Earnings from the tea packets exports which include 50g to
3kg range increased significantly by 14% or Rs.8.1billion
more due to the higher tea packets imports from Turkey,
Iran, and Syria as against last year.
Apart from bulk tea and packet tea exports in 2014, tea
bags volume increased by 10%, but it has reported lowest
FOB price increase compared to last year value of Rs
1097.64/Kg except green tea category. The significant increase in FOB value of Instant tea exports by 7% in the
meantime total volume increase in 2014 gave the
indication of more inquiries will be made for coming
years. The FOB value of re-exports of imported teas also
showed a sizable decrease of 25% to reach 15.6 million
kilograms. It is evident from the table 9 that share of
value added tea in total tea exports increased slightly to
42% from 39% in the year 2014.
Table 9 - Top ten destinations of Ceylon tea
from Jan-Dec 2014/2013 Units : Qty - Mkg
Country
2014
2013
Change
Qty
%
Turkey
Russia
Iran
Iraq
UAE
44.73
43.55
29.26
24.44
19.22
32.19 12.54
45.92 -2.37
39.61 -10.35
22.51
1.93
17.95
1.27
38.96
-5.16
-26.13
8.57
7.08
Syria
12.85
21.05
-8.2
-38.95
Libya
Kuwait
12.42
12.15
6.52
16.08
5.9
-3.93
90.49
-24.44
Azerbaijan
11.15
10.77
0.38
3.53
8.98
6.95
8.82
6.84
0.16
0.11
1.81
1.61
Japan
Chile
Total Exports %
2014
2013
14.1 10.3
13.7 14.8
9.2 12.7
7.7 7.2
6.0 5.8
4.0 6.8
3.9 2.1
3.8 5.2
3.5 3.5
2.8 2.8
2.2 2.8
Ceylon tea reached 140 countries during 2014 and
first top ten countries absorbed 71% of total exports.
Turkey ranked first in top ten destinations list but it
was a temporary situation due to boarder trading
increased to Iran and Syria which showed lower imports in 2014 compared to previous years.
Russia placed second rank at the top ten destination
list in 2014, following steady decline from the peak
Value
103007
56713
25477
2002
3604
190803
8636
199440
sQty
-6.41
10.58
2.25
0.249
0.07
6.739
0.94
7.679
Change
FOB
27.89
16.04
1.6
75.53
-40.11
26.96
-53.90
25.53
Value
1,671
8,135
2,511
422
-35
12,704
445
13,148
% Change
Qty
FOB
-3.36
5.16
11.43
2.62
9.69
0.15
12.77
7.36
2.44 -3.20
2.17
4.40
11.03 -5.31
2.40
4.09
of 59Mkgs in 2006.
The higher volume imports by Libya and Iraq
reported in 2014 due to rebound of economic activities facilitate the international
trade and confidence built
among business community
after long run internal conflicts
period.
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
……………..………….from page 1.
Finally this unprecedented achievement of US$ 1.6 billion dollar exports earnings in 2014 was due to the untiring efforts and
the commitment of all the stakeholders of the Sri Lankan tea industry. The challenge the Sri Lankan Tea industry now fac-
ing is the sustainability of this US$1.6 billion dollar status
and stringent measures have to be taken to maintain quality
and value addition. This is in addition to the other constraints such as high cost of production, lower yield, and
frequent labor unrests etc.
5
Tea Manufacturer National Awards
Small -Lumbini Tea Factory ,
Mr. Chaminda Jayawardena
Medium-Harangala Tea Factory
Mr. B.K.R. Asokalal
Large Scale-Galpadithanna Tea Factory
Mr. K.D.S.R. Upasena
Tea Exporters National Level Awards
General Overview
……………..………….from page 1.
Dry weather prevailed in most of the tea growing areas and
scattered showers experienced in High and Medium grown
region.
Hence, Quality of the teas reduced in larger variations at all
elevations.
Primos in Tea industry recognized at
the National Plantation Awards
Award for the largest foreign Exchange Earner on
Tea Exports – Akbar Brothers Limited
Best exporters Volume wise,
Small- Hyson Teas (Pvt) Ltd.-Mr. Duminda Senaratne
Medium-HVA Foods PLC-Mr. Rohan Fernando
Large -Akbar Brothers Ltd -Mr. T. Sambasivam
Best Value Added Tea Exporter
Small- Hyson Teas (Pvt) Ltd -Mr. Duminda Sena-
In appreciation of the excellence achievement in the Tea
industry, National Tea Plantation Awards Ceremony 2014
organized by Sri Lanka Tea Board with the guidance of
Ministry of Plantation Industries for the second consecutive year, with more criteria for appraisals, facilitating the
upcoming global trends to encourage all stakeholders in
the Tea Industry.
National Awards given under three categories as
follows
Best Green Leaf dealers in regional basis
Best tea manufacturers in three categories and regional basis
 Best exporters in three categories.


ratne
Medium-HVA Foods PLC-Mr. Rohan Fernando
Large- Akbar Brothers Ltd-Mr. Hateem Akbar Ali
Best Brand Owner
Small- Hyson Teas (Pvt) Ltd -Ms. Chintha De
Zoysa
Medium-HVA Foods PLC-Mr. Rohan Fernando
Large- Akbar Brothers LTD -Mr. Hateem Akbar
Ali
Award for the Best Exporter who penetrated
New Tea Markets Akbar Brother Limited – Mr.Joseph Sinnaiah
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
PAGE
6
6
Global Tea Scene
The global black tea production decreased by 1.5 per
cent to reach an estimated 2.18 billion kilograms in
2014 with available production data in major black tea
producing countries compared to last year. Countries of
Vietnam, Iran, Turkey, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, and Nepal yet to be published their crop data
for the year 2014. The decrease was mainly due to a 4%
decrease in India output to 1.18 billion kilograms and
slight decrease in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh crop.
The production decrease in India mainly attributed to
gloomy weather in Assam areas and labor unrest resulted stoppage the production.
Global tea production in some selected producing countries during the year 2014 as compared with that of
2013 is given below. Final data for China is not available but it is expected that tea production in China had
increased during 2014 above the 1315Mkgs level. The
below table depicted that Kenya continued their increasing production trend in 2014 and hopes to be bypass the
production of 450Mkgs in 2015.
Table 10 -Global tea production compared
with 2014/2013(Mkgs)
Country
INDIA
Period
months
12
BANGLADESH
12
SRI LANKA
12
INDONESIA
5
KENYA
12
MALAWI
12
TANZANIA
6
UGANDA
12
TOTAL*
2014
Growth
2013
1184800
1230040
-45240
64480
66260
-1780
338032
340229
24300
24000
445105
432453
45855
46463
20253
19683
61376
57938
2,184,201 2,217,066
-2197
300
12652
-608
570
3438
-32865
Sri Lanka was ranked first in the world in the tea auctions
ranking list achieving the highest average price of US$ 3.56
per kilogram, a well ahead of the previous year value of
U$3.4/Kg while Kolkata ranked second attributed to huge
local demand.
The average price of tea at the Mombasa auction have
dropped to the lowest level in recent years. Quantifying
the average tea price have decreased by 16 percent to
US2.03/Kg during the year at Mombasa auction.
Table 12 - Exports comparison during Jan–
December in 2014/2013—Unit: MT
Country
INDIA
Period
months
2014
2013
Growth
%
Change
9
146170
148400
-2230
-1.5
BANGLADESH
12
2662
543
2119
CHINA
12
301484
332416
-30932
SRI LANKA
12
327340
319660
7680
INDONESIA
10
56475
59042
-2567
390.2
-9.3
2.4
-4.3
KENYA
11
458239
453869
4370
1.0
MALAWI
9
35879
32346
3533
10.9
TANZANIA
9
18835
21101
-2266
-10.7
UGANDA
11
49457
52575
-3118
TAIWAN
11
3385
3581
-196
ARGENTINA
5
36138
36425
-287
-5.9
-5.5
-0.8
1,436,064 1,459,958
-23,894
-1.6
TOTAL*
* Provisional
Source : INTTEA
A year 2014, few of the major importing countries registered higher imports than last year. Those countries are
Poland (5Mkgs),Germany (5Mkgs), Pakistan (10Mkgs),
USA(2Kgs), Canada(1Mkgs) and Russia (1Kgs) as per
the available data. Hence, cheaper tea exporting countries like Kenya , Malawi, and Bangladesh got advantage
to exports more teas to low price destinations and premium tea segment represented Sri Lanka with more
exports in 2014.
As the importing countries are very much concerned
about the quality of their tea imports, hence the quality
orthodox tea producers obviously will be at an
advantage over others 2014 also.
Table 11- Average prices in major auction centers
2014
2013
2012
Change 2014/2013
Auction
Centers Qty (MT) US$/Kg Qty (MT) US$/Kg Qty (MT) US$/Kg Qty (MT) US$/Kg
Kolkata
142,041
2.65
162,657
2.72
151,040
2.81
11,617
-0.07
Cochin
52,670
1.66
53,425
1.94
57,395
1.8
-3,970
-0.28
Chittagong
67,122
2.19
55,339
2.87
58,085
2.41
-2,746
-0.68
Mombasa
390,246
2.03
384,162
2.41
321,544
2.88
62,618
-0.38
Jakarta
26,289
1.66
33,049
1.98
31,955
1.97
1,094
-0.32
Colombo
333,523
3.56
335,517
3.44
325,358
3.07
10,159
0.12
Guwahati
128,855
2.32
119,140
2.26
119,257
2.47
-117
0.06
Malawi
9,019
1.43
9,594
1.82
12,472
1.7
-2,878
-0.39
World
1,149,765
2.56
1,152,883
2.72
1,077,106
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
2.76
75,777
-0.16
PAG E
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
Trade Fair Participation
XIAMEN International Tea Fair 2014, Xiamen,
China (10th -13th October 2013)
7
tea export companies were represented Pure
Ceylon Tea Pavilions such as Kaushalya Tea Exports and Basilar Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd.
FHC China 2014- 12th to 14th November
Sri Lanka Tea Board organized a Sri Lanka Tea Exporters pavilion and conducted information desk with Chinese interpreter and free liquid tea service.
Sinbad (Pvt) Ltd, Bestir Lanka, Susen International
(Pvt) Ltd, Jafferjee & Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Hidellana Tea
Factory (Pvt) Ltd, Tea Talk, Ceylon fresh Teas (Pvt)
Ltd, Mabroc China agent, Favour Tea – Euro Asia
Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Sinolan Tea (Pvt Ltd.
Sial France 2014 International Trade Fair in Paris,
France (19 - 23 October 2014)
The Pavilion consisted of booths of SLTB and Ceylon
Fresh Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Grand Emporium of Tea & Herb
(Pvt) Ltd, Union Commodities (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon Tea
Land (Pvt) Ltd, Eswaran Brothers (Pvt) Ltd, Shan Teas
(Pvt) Ltd and Dasatha Export & Import International
(Pvt) Ltd .
World Food Kazakhstan 2014 was held from 5th to
7th November in Kazakhstan.
SLTB organized a group stands occupying two
booths (18sqm) not far from the entrance to Pavilion which hosted tea and coffee. Two Sri Lankan
Two Sri Lankan tea export companies were represented Pure Ceylon Tea Pavilions such as Enrich Tea & Food Exports (Pvt) Ltd and Uva
Halpewatte Estates (Pvt) Ltd.
World of Tea Exhibition in Teheran, Iran from
17th to 19th November 2014.
1) Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd
2) Stassen Exports (Pvt) Ltd
3) Classic Teas (PVT) Ltd,
4) Shan Teas (Pvt) Ltd
5) Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd
SIAL - Middle East 2014 (24TH - 26TH November)
Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd
Empire Teas (PVT) Ltd
Maskeliya Tea Gardens Ceylon Limited
SLTB PARTICIPATED AT INT’L COFFEE & TEA
FESTIVAL IN ABU DHABI FROM 12TH - 14TH NOVEMBER 2014
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD
Tea market update Volume 10. No. 4
P AG E
Child Development Centres at RPC estates
see vast progress
More than 60% of CDCs at estates managed by plantation
companies have achieved ideal status
The colourful and well-equipped buildings in which young
children of Regional Plantation Company (RPC) estates
are taken care of, are now advanced early childhood development centres, a vast improvement from the single-room
‘Pullemadus’ that were used earlier for the purpose.
Records maintained by the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) show that 936 or over 60% of Child
Development Centres (CDCs) of Regional Plantation
Company (RPC) estates have been upgraded since 1993,
just one year after privatisation of estates by the government.
Standards at 917 of the total of 1,493 or more than 60% of
all (CDCs) within the 396 estates managed by the RPCs
have been classified as ‘Ideal Child Development Centres’
by the PHDT, a tripartite organisation comprising RPCs,
Trade Unions and the Government.
In 2011 alone, 73 CDCs were upgraded to standards classified by the PHDT as ‘ideal’ based on 10 criteria developed by the PHDT. Recognising the benefit of early childhood development, which was severely lacking in the preprivatisation period, the PHDT together with estate management and several Non-Governmental Organisations
and charitable funds, developed the crèches, employing
largely trained and qualified Child Development Officers,
in keeping with benchmarks and high standards maintained across the rest of the country.
“Infrastructure dedicated to childcare at Regional Plantation Company-managed estates have evolved enormously
since privatisation of estates, particularly due to the dedication of the PHDT,” Roshan Rajadurai, Chairman of the
Planters’ Association of Ceylon – which represents 22
Regional Plantations Companies (RPCs) said. “It is most
encouraging that despite financial constraints imposed by
a highly challenging business environment, a number of
RPCs have gone beyond the call of duty and invested substantially in further improving childcare-related facilities.”
8
A key part of the overall improved facilities at CDCs
include the capacity building of the CDOs. Of the 1,350
Child Development Officers functioning in RPC estates, 563 have nationally-recognized diplomas on the
subject and a further 165 are expected to receive their
national diplomas shortly.
In addition to developments relating to Child Development Officers and Child Development Centers, Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), with the support
of the PHDT and other stakeholders, have succeeded in
substantially improving living standards of residents of
RPC estates since privatization.
Approximately 60% of houses of estate residents in
RPC-managed estates has been newly constructed or
upgraded with various infrastructure elements since
privatization of the estate sector. Vast improvements
have been achieved in many other indicators including
those relating to education, water, financial literacy,
female empowerment and sanitation and health. Some
RPCs have even received international recognition for
initiatives undertaken on behalf of the community resident within the estates managed by them.
Sri Lanka Tea Board
574,Galle Rd, Colombo – 03.
Tel :2587814,2582122 Fax : 2587341
E-Mail—[email protected]
Mothers on estates are entitled to statutory maternity leave
and a child gets enrolled at a CDC at the tender age of
four/five months and is in the care of the Child Development Officer, until he or she is of the age to begin school.
Tea plucker mothers are usually stationed within very
close proximity to the CDCs to allow for easy and quick
accessibility for breast feeding or when the child is sick.
Elpitiya Plantations PLC, a winner of the All-Island Child
Development Centre Competition organised by the PHDT,
estimates that the company spent Rs. 24 million in 2011
PUBLICATION OF TEA PROMOTION DIVISION—SRI LANKA TEA BOARD