The Hindu Business Line : Massive fall in tea imports

THERE has been a massive reduction in the import of tea into India in 2003 compared to 2002, according to the latest information available with the Tea Board.

Only 6.77 million kg were imported in 2003 against 22.01 million kg in 2002. Imports came down inter alia, because the average price of imported tea rose to Rs 62.88 per kg from Rs 45.92. India spent Rs 42.61 crore for importing tea in 2003 - a whopping Rs 58.50 crore lower than the previous year.

Of the 6.77 million kg imported, as much as 6.69 million kg were re-exported. In 2002, 21.83 million kg were re-exported. Consequently, only 0.09 million kg were retained for the domestic market in 2003 against 0.18 million kg in 2002.

As for the imports from Sri Lanka - the controversial trade irking the tea industry - in 2003, the total arrivals were 0.42 million kg against 0.97 million kg in the previous year. But the price of tea rose to Rs 96 a kg from Rs 58.44 a kg. The overall import bill for Sri Lankan tea stood at Rs 4.01 crore against Rs 5.69 crore in 2002.

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