Tensions in Gulf strain Ceylon Tea Archives

Tensions in Gulf strain Ceylon Tea – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Image Source : publicfinance Industry experts caution that rising tensions in Gulf region could impact Ceylon Tea. Issues in the Red Sea have already impacted the industry with longer delivery time and higher freight costs. This situation can also drastically affect the prices and livelihoods of people in the plantation sector who depend on tea export. With over 50 percent of the island nation’s tea exports heading to the Middle East, the industry is especially vulnerable to any disruptions in the region. Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) has stated that official figures of the current situation have not been shared by those in the tea industry, although, the industry stakeholders have informed that the situation could adversely affect tea exports. Closure of airspace in the region could also adversely affect tea exports. According to senior industry experts “similar to the ...