NEW DELHI: India’s tea exports to Pakistan rose by 56 per cent to Rs. 139.74 crore in the first nine months of the current fiscal, while the overall outward shipments surged by just 9 per cent to Rs. 3,218.07 crore.
Total exports to the neighbouring country stood at Rs. 89.46 crore in the first nine months of the previous fiscal, according to Tea Board data.
However, overall tea shipments increased by 9 per cent to Rs. 3,218.07 crore in the April-December period of the current fiscal from Rs. 2,955.78 crore in the year-ago period. The per unit price at which tea was exported to Pakistan increased to Rs. 97.04 per kg from Rs. 84.80 per kg a year ago.
In volume terms, outward shipments from India to other neighbouring countries increased to 14.40 million kg from 10.55 million kg in 9-month period in 2014-15.
According to the Tea Board, total tea exported from India in the period under review rose to 166.55 million kg as against 147.96 million kg a year earlier. The increase in tea exports was seen in major tea-importing countries such as the CIS countries, the U.K., Germany, Poland, the UAE, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Tea production has been low this fiscal mainly due to unfavourable weather conditions. Besides, wage-related issues also hit tea producers. The tea sector has also been facing other issues including migration of labourers to other industries.
India is the world’s second biggest tea producer and also one of the largest consumers. The country exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) grade tea to countries like Egypt, the U.K., and other traditional varieties to Iraq, Iran and Russia. Tea plucking in India mainly starts between July and October.
