Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.

Britain's tea supply at risk amid Red Sea crisis, disruptions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Feb 2024 20:19
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The British Retail Consortium reports "temporary disruptions" in certain black tea products, with delays also observed in flavored tea lines, according to an industry source.

  • x
  • Illustrative: The 'CMA CGM Palais Royal,' the world's largest container ship powered by natural gas, sails in the bay of Marseille, southern France, on December 14, 2023. (AFP)
    Illustrative: The 'CMA CGM Palais Royal,' the world's largest container ship powered by natural gas, sails in the bay of Marseille, southern France, on December 14, 2023. (AFP)

Britons might face a shortage of certain tea varieties, one of the nation's favorite drinks, as the supermarket sector alerts about potential shipping disruptions in the Red Sea, Reuters reported.

The British Retail Consortium reported experiencing "temporary disruptions" in certain black tea products, with delays also observed in flavored tea lines, according to an industry source.
 
Despite the major supermarket groups displaying sufficient tea supply on their websites as of Tuesday, companies have cautioned that the duration of disruptions to Red Sea shipping will determine the potential for empty shelves in Europe, including tea products.

The caution about potential delays marks the first for a food item, with previous warnings primarily issued by clothing retailers after Yemen launched a phase of operations against Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships in response to the occupation entity's genocide in Gaza.

The big picture

As the world's fifth-largest tea importer, Britain relies on the Red Sea route for more than half of its imported tea, mainly from Kenya and India. The unprocessed tea is shipped to the UK for processing and packaging, contributing to Britain's position as the 10th largest tea exporter globally, as per the Institute of Export & International Trade (IEIT).

"There is temporary disruption to some black tea lines, but the impact on consumers will be minimal as retailers are not expecting significant challenges," said Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, which represents the major supermarket groups, as quoted by Reuters.

IEIT Director General Marco Forgione warned that tea could be the initial product affected by the supply chain crisis. Utilizing the alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope may extend the journey by 10-14 days compared to the route via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Several prominent UK clothing retailers, including Next, Pepco Group, Primark, and Matalan, have expressed concerns about the potential repercussions of disruptions to Red Sea shipments.

Meanwhile, the Ansar Allah movement is united in its pursuit of two main objectives: compelling "Israel" to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and ending the blockade on Gaza.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israeli occupation forces committed several massacres in 24 hours only, killing 133 Palestinians and injuring 162, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli aggression on Gaza up to 28,473, in addition to 68,146 injuries.

Read next: What the West needs to know about Yemen's Ansar Allah

  • British Retail Consortium
  • Gaza envelope
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Red Sea
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza
  • tea supply
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS