The Hindu Business Line : Tea production up in Kenya, Lanka

INDIA's loss became Kenya's gain with that country not only stepping up its global tea shipments but squeezing itself into the Indian market in the wake of a 36 million kg (mkg) production loss.

Information from various producing countries show that in 2004, till October, the country's tea production fell by 36.3 mkg over the same months of 2003 to 697.2 mkg.

But, Kenya's production rose 24.9 mkg to 257.9 mkg. Sri Lanka and Malawi each posted an increase of four mkg to reach 254.4 mkg and 37.9 mkg respectively. Tanzania also showed a marginal increase.

But, Bangladesh posted a loss of 2.5 mkg to dip to 46.1 mkg. Uganda and Zimbabwe also showed a lower crop.

Consequently, the global production fell 7.6 mkg to dip to 1411.4 mkg.

But, all the major countries raised their exports. While India's shipments rose 10.9 mkg to 142.9 mkg, Kenya stepped up its exports by a whopping 45.2 mkg. Sri Lanka continued to top the exporters' list with a shipment of 247.2 mkg, followed by Kenya at 244.8 mkg.

Provisional date from China show an export of 152.2 mkg and India ranked fourth.

In all, although global production fell by 7.6 mkg, the global exports rose by 56.1 mkg to touch 933.7 mkg.

The biggest gainer was Kenya because it increased its exports by 45.2 mkg, accounting for 81 per cent of the total increase in global exports.

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