The Russian Federation is a traditionally a tea dinking nation with a strong loyalty over the hot beverages. The country is the largest tea importer in the world for consumption with annul intake of around 170 million Kilos of tea from all origins with a per-capita consumption of 1.2 kilos per annum.

With the disintegration of the former Soviet Union during the early 1990s, Russia emerged as an important outlet for exportation of Ceylon Tea. By end of 1990, Russian Federation was the undisputed number one tea importer from Sri Lanka. From annul Ceylon Tea off-takes averaging around 4 to 5 million kilos during Soviet Union times, Russian imports from Sri Lanka inclined to a significant 40 million kilos by 1996/1997 period. Importantly, 90% of exports went in value added form during those years.

Although the growth trend of tea exports from Sri Lanka o Russia continued beyond the new decade at the expense of India mainly, India managed to hold-on to the position of market leader in Russia until 2001. With the Screw Account of clearing Indian Rupees against Russian Rubles coming to an end, the advantages enjoyed by India during Soviet times ceased. Tea supplies from India was dwindling year on year by 2002. Sri Lanka emerged as the undisputed market leader to Russia with approx.. 39% share.

In the late 1980s and beginning of 1990s, India was supplying more than 100 million kilos to former USSR but by early 2000, the quantities exported from India to Russia had declined to less than half ( 50 million kilos). During the Indian dominance of USSR Tea market, granulated CTC teas predominantly prevailed in Russia and across other Soviet Republics. Consumer choices was restricted under the Communist regime. With the gradual transformation from Indian dominance to Ceylon popularity, consumer preference in Russia shifted to orthodox leaf tea. It coincided with the end of the cold war. Thereafter, consumer demand had remained loyal to leaf tea, particularly Low Grown big leaf from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka still continues as the number of tea supplier to the land of tea samovar with a share of around 29%.

 

 

Ceylon Tea Promotions in Russia & CIS

Tarde Fair Participation

Ceylon Tea Pavilion at World Food Moscow, 14th -17th September 2015

Tea Promotion Unit of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow participated at one of the largest food & beverage exhibition in the Russian Federation that World Food Moscow Exhibition while organizing Ceylon Tea pavilion in accommodating 04 leading private sector tea exporting companies in Sri Lanka. The companies namely Unitrade (Pvt) Ltd, Sunshine Tea (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon Tenny Tea (Pvt) Ltd and Femrich Lanka (Pvt) Ltd showcased under the Ceylon Tea pavilion.

Sri Lanka Stand at Coffee & Tea Festival, 11th -13th September 2015 at Sokolniki Park, Moscow.

Tea Promotion Unit in Collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau made a Sri Lanka’s presence maintaining a Ceylon Tea & Tourism promotion stall at 2nd edition of Coffee & Tea Festival held at Sokolniki Park in Moscow from 11th to 13th September 2015. A Ceylon tea sampling session using unique seven regional Ceylon teas attracted the visitors of to taste the collection of divers Ceylon tea.

Ceylon Tea at World Food Ukraine, 27th -29th October 2015

A Ceylon Tea pavilion will be showcasing range of Ceylon Tea products at World Food Ukraine exhibition from 27th to 29th October 2015 in Kiev. The Ceylon Tea pavilion at the exhibition will be represented by the M/s. Basilur Tea Export (Pvt) Ltd, Premier Natural teas (Pvt) Ltd and Sri Lanka Tea Board with its own stand. The Sri Lankan Tea companies at the exhibition is unveiled for interested parties in Ukraine to source the intended Ceylon tea products matching with demands from emerging market segments.

Ceylon Tea Pavilion at World Food Kazakhstan, 04th to 06th November 2015

Sri Lanka Tea Board joining hands with three private sector leading tea exporting companies in Sri Lanka will be participating at World Food Kazakhstan exhibition from 04th to 06th November 2015 organizing a Ceylon Tea pavilion. Under the Ceylon tea banner, along with Sri Lanka Tea Board, M/s. Mabroc Teas (Pvt) Ltd, M/s. HVA Foods PLC and Millennium Teas (Pvt) Ltd will be showcasing range of Ceylon tea products allowing the interested buyer to generate new business contacts in the Kazakhstan tea market.