STiR coffee and tea magazine

STiR coffee and tea 27 Exceptional Exceptional TEA EXPERTISE TEA EXPERTISE since 1836 since 1836 Dethlefsen & Balk Inc., Chicago, USA P: +1(312)-628-8917 | www.dethlefsen-balk.us NORTH AMERICA Tea | Coffee | Accessories INTERNATIONAL Dethlefsen & Balk GmbH, Hamburg, Germany P: +49-40-731073-0 | www.dethlefsen-balk.de Tea | Coffee | Confiserie | Accessories Premium Orthodox Teas Rare Varieties | Custom Blends Flavored Tea Specialties Tea Fruit Gummies | Premium Coffee Exclusive Accessories Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy K. Mutai stated that rising global fuel costs and potential port congestion pose the greatest threats to Kenya's tea trade. Photo credit: Tea Board of Kenya Fuel shortages threaten India's acclaimed Darjeeling first flush harvest season, which accounts for 40% of the region's annual tea production, and generates 80% of its annual revenue. rationing and price increases, which have driven up production and international shipping costs due to both the US-Iran conflict and the effects of Typhoon Dit- wah. The resulting inflation in food pric- es and fuel scarcity is leading tea industry workers to push for wage increases. Tea tourism has also taken a major hit, as 50- 70% of bookings are being canceled. Each of these challenges translates to real economic setbacks. Sri Lankan news- paper EconomyNext estimated weekly losses of $10-15 million in Sri Lanka's tea industry while the conflict continues. These impacts appear to have directly affected Sri Lanka's tea production and ex- port performance in Q1 of 2026. According to data published by Ceylon Tea Brokers and cited by the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka's tea industry saw declines in production, ex- port volumes, and average prices compared with Q1 2025. Total tea production also fell by 2.55 million kilograms, and exports declined by 2.85 million kilograms. Sri Lankan tea exports to Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, and Iran also declined compared to the first quarter of 2025. However, exports to Iraq remained steady, and exports to Turkey increased. Iran is a crucial destination for Sri Lankan tea, as Sri Lanka currently has a barter arrangement with Iran to repay a $251 million debt for oil purchases, and US sanctions prohibit the direct use of US dollars in transactions with Iran. India Amid tightening oil supply, tea producers in Darjeeling continue to face shortages and rationing of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a fuel critical to tea production. As Darjeel- ing entered the harvesting season for its internationally renowned first flush tea, the Darjeeling Tea Association submitted an urgent request to India's Ministry of Petro- leum and Natural Gas to allow tea producers greater access to LPG during the critical

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