Sept. tea national sales average rises

The National Sales Average (NSA) of tea rose in September in rupee terms on both a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis, although the dollar-denominated average fell against a year earlier, according to Forbes & Walker Research.

Low Grown teas drove the increase. High and Medium grown teas improved marginally over August but stayed well below their September 2025 levels.

Citing Sri Lanka Tea Board data, Forbes & Walker Research said the national TSA for September 2026 rose to Rs. 1,202.74 ($ 3.65) per kilogram from Rs. 1,174.46 ($ 3.53) in August. This was a MoM increase of Rs. 28.28 and $ 0.12.

Against September 2025, the average was up Rs. 11.12 from Rs. 1,191.62, while the US dollar equivalent was down $ 0.29 from $ 3.94. Dollar values are converted at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) September 2026 spot rate.

For January to September 2026, the national sales average stood at Rs. 1,170.20 ($ 3.63) per kilogram, compared with Rs. 1,160.56 ($ 3.88) in the same period last year. That is a year-to-date (YTD) gain of Rs. 9.64, while the dollar average was $ 0.25 lower.

Low Grown teas again recorded the strongest performance. The category’s average rose by Rs. 33.22 and $ 0.14 over August to Rs. 1,310.05 ($ 3.98), and was up Rs. 58.21 on September 2025, although $ 0.16 lower in dollar terms. It was the only elevation to post a year-on-year rupee gain.

High Grown teas edged up by Rs. 12.99 and $ 0.07 MoM to Rs. 1,070.05 ($ 3.25). However, the category recorded the steepest annual fall, down Rs. 85.71 and $ 0.57 against September 2025.

Medium Grown teas, which have the lowest average of the three elevations, rose by Rs. 2.14 and $ 0.03 over August to Rs. 956.96 ($ 2.90). YoY, they were down Rs. 70.58 and $ 0.50.

On a cumulative basis, High and Low Grown teas recorded positive rupee variances of Rs. 21.33 and Rs. 19.16, respectively, against 2025, while Medium Grown teas were down Rs. 45.13. In dollar terms, all three elevations were lower YTD, by $ 0.20 for high Grown, $ 0.39 for Medium Grown and $ 0.24 for Low Grown teas.