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Crisis-struck Sri Lanka's vital tea exports have dropped to their lowest level in 23 years, official figures showed Wednesday, hit by a fertiliser ban and the war in Ukraine.
Tea is the island nation's biggest export commodity, bringing in about $1.3 billion annually before the current economic downturn, the worst since independence in 1948.
Customs data showed that first-quarter exports in 2022 correspondingly plunged to 63.7 million kilos (140 million pounds), down from 69.8 million kilos in the January-March period last year.
Export earnings for the first quarter also declined, to $287 million from $338 million.
The ban was lifted by October following backlash from the industry, but farmers were left unable to access imported fertiliser as the country simultaneously ran out of dollars.
The country of 22 million lacks enough foreign currency to finance even the most essential imports such as food, fuel and medicines.
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