Middle East Conflict Hurts Sri Lanka Tea Industry | Ceylon Tea Exports Crash | Sri Lanka’s Tea

Sri Lanka’s famous Ceylon tea industry is facing a major crisis as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts exports, increases fuel costs, and worsens economic hardship for plantation workers. According to a Reuters report, tea export earnings fell sharply in March 2026, with exports to Iraq dropping 38% and shipments to the UAE plunging 93%. The tea sector, worth nearly $1.5 billion annually and supporting around 2.4 million people, is now under severe pressure. Workers are struggling with rising living costs, school absenteeism is increasing, and many families are cutting down on meals. Major tea companies like Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC are also facing shipping and logistics disruptions due to higher global fuel prices. This video explains how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are affecting Sri Lanka’s economy, tea exports, inflation, and the lives of plantation workers dependent on the tea industry.