Sri Lanka, Jan. 23 -- Sri Lanka's tea export earnings surpassed USD 1.5 billion in 2025, rising from USD 1.43 billion in 2024, despite weaker export volumes during the final month of the year, according to industry data compiled by Forbes & Walker Research.

Total tea export earnings for the year reached Rs. 453.3 billion, up from Rs. 433.5 billion in the previous year, reinforcing the sector's importance to the country's export economy. Cumulative tea exports for the January-December 2025 period amounted to 257.44 million kilograms, an increase of 11.65 million kilograms compared with 245.79 million kilograms in 2024. All tea categories recorded volume growth during the year except for bulk tea.

Exports in December 2025, however, declin...