NEW DELHI: Tea exports have registered a 7.25 per cent increase by volume and a 4.2 per cent increase by value between April to October 2015, as compared to a year ago according to provisional data released by the Tea Board of India.
The increase came at a time when tea production had suffered a marginal decline, standing at 946.97 million kg. Importantly, the share of the small tea growers (STG) have increased just as the production from large estates have declined. This decline has been sharper — by around 5 per cent — in South India and 1.2 per cent in North India.
Domestic prices at the auctions ruled lower for both North and South Indian teas. Overall prices dropped by about three per cent. Assam accounts for 50 per cent of India’s tea output making up, along with West Bengal (25 per cent) and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, the North Indian cup.
On exports, the official figures showed that countries where India exported more teas were Russia, U.K., Germany, Iran, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Exports have been estimated at 119.3 million kg against 111.2 million kg a year ago. Value stood at Rs.2,318.10 crores against Rs. 2,224.50 crores.
