South Africa set for low rooibos tea yields
The South African Rooibos Council expects low yields for the country's huge rooibos tea industry in 2011 due to poor rains that may lead to smaller harvests. Oversupply also played a role in the past three years, as export volumes declined dramatically from 7200 tons in 2007 to approximately 6000 tons in 2010. This resulted in a surplus of about 3000 tons last year and prompted farmers to plant less bushes. Despite this, domestic demand has increased by about 5% in 2010 and it is the only tea sector that is growing in South Africa. On a separate note, the council is working on an initiative that would introduce common standards and measures for local farmers to sustainably produce rooibos products, which would be a marketing advantage in foreign markets.