Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 |
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Exports & Imports Agri-Biz & Commodities - Tea Tea production rises, exports down in Jan-Feb Kohinoor Mandal
In store Though output is up in the North, it may dip during March-April Production expected to dip due to lack of rains in Assam Exports likely to pick up in the coming months
Kolkata , April 7 The country's tea production in the first two months of the calendar year has registered a growth compared with the corresponding period a year ago. However, exports have suffered drastically during this period. According to statistics available from the Tea Board, tea production increased in the Assam Valley and Cachar. In West Bengal, except Darjeeling, growth has stagnated in Dooars and Terai. Total production in North India during the period stood at 11.5 million kg (mkg) against 9.4 mkg last year. In South India, however, production was down by 0.7 mkg as the crop suffered in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
Not worried
Top officials of Indian Tea Association - the apex body of the producers - and the Tea Board are not concerned about these statistics. According to them, the available data hardly shows any trend. "It is just the beginning of the year. Only the first two months have completed. One would not be able to judge the crop position by what have been produced in the first two months," a senior ITA official said. He said production might have increased in North India compared to last year but there was apprehension that it might suffer in March and April.
Upcoming trend
"There were hardly any rains in Assam in February and March. It was not evident in the first two months' production figures. However, we would not be surprised if we find that production is down in March and April." Further, he added, the total annual production in the first two months is less than 40 million kg, which is less than five per cent of the total expected production. "These are numbers are too minuscule in the whole scheme of things." Meanwhile, the trend of declining exports continued in 2006. In the first two months, exports stood at 21.85 mkg (35.25 mkg).
Sporadic problem
For the April-February 2005-06 period, tea exports were 162.13 million kg compared with 193.73 mkg a year ago. So, exports were down by 31.60 mkg. Regarding the fall in the exports in the first two months, the ITA official said it could be an intermittent problem and that things could be sorted out soon. "Perhaps, by March, exports will pick up because the exporters would try to meet their commitments by the end of the fiscal."
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