The Hindu Business Line : Tea exports to all major nations dip

TEA exports to all major destinations from the country except Iran, Australia, Kazakhstan and Canada, took a beating during the first five months of the calendar year.

On the other hand, total exports to over 27 destinations during the first half of the calendar year have fallen by 28 per cent to about 57.15 million kilogram (mkg) against 79.32 mkg during the same period last year.

In June, exports were to the tune of 12.09 mkg as against 13.14 mkg in June 2002.

Up to May, the fall in tea exports in terms of value has been Rs 136.72 crore. The decline has been significant in the war-torn Iraq, one of the major importers of Indian tea last year.

Tea shipments to Baghdad have declined by Rs 82.09 crore or 13.89 mkg during the first five months. The next major decline is to Russia.

Exports to both these destinations declined by over Rs 22 crore.

However, a Rs 20 crore rise in shipments to Kazakhstan, which has imported 5.21 mkg tea as against 2.78 mkg during the corresponding period last year, has helped to offset the setback to an extent.

Exports to the United Kingdom also saw a decline of 1.43 mkg valued at Rs 10.52 crore.

On the production front, however, there has been a 9.3 per cent rise during January-June this year to 314.1 mkg from 284.6 mkg the same period last year.

Production in June, however, was marginally down at 90.7 mkg compared to 97 mkg previous year.

South India accounted for about 16.2 mkg (20.9 mkg) of the output during June with Tamil Nadu producing about 11.5 mkg (14.8 mkg). North India produced 74.5 mkg (76.1 mkg) with Assam and West Bengal accounting for 52.1 mkg (54.9 mkg) and West Bengal 21.8 mkg (20.6 mkg).

The Tea Board's thrust on orthodox teas has begun yielding results as its production has increased to about 15.1 mkg (12.3 mkg) in June. Total CTC output during June was at 75 mkg (84.1 mkg).

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