NEW DELHI: India’s tea exports to Pakistan have increased by 42 per cent to Rs 116.12 crore in the first eight months of the current financial year on account of rise in volumes and price of the beverage.
The overall total exports have also risen by 6 per cent to Rs 2,746.04 crore in the April-November period of the 2015-16 from Rs 2,590.08 crore in the year ago period. While the exports to Pakistan stood at Rs 81.61 crore in the first eight months of the last fiscal. In volume terms also, the outward shipments increased to the neighboring nation from 9.65 million kg to 11.85 million kg.
The total tea exported from India in the period under review also rose to 141.07 million kg from 129.82 million kg according to the Tea Board data. Increase of tea exports was seen in major tea-importing countries like CIS countries, the UK, Germany, Poland, the UAE, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Tea production has been low this year mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions and wages issues have also hit tea producers hard. During the year, there have been reports of labour migration to other industries rather than staying at the tea gardens on account of issues related to quality of life and wages.
India is the world’s second-biggest tea producer and also one of its largest consumer. The country exports CTC (crush- tear-curl) grade tea to countries like Egypt, the UK, and other traditional varieties to Iraq, Iran and Russia.
