UN warns droughts may drive up tea prices

02 July 1997

UN warns droughts may drive up tea prices

A United Nations (UN) food agency has warned that droughts in
tea-producing countries will mean higher prices.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome said dry weather in
Sri Lanka and many African countries has caused a 37% drop in production
in the first quarter of this year. If demand remains constant, prices
will inevitably rise.

Britain imports 150,000 tons of tea a year. Almost four out of five
people in Britain drink it. Coffee prices have also risen this year
because of poor weather conditions in Brazil.