Global black tea production is heading for a record this calendar with the output so far having risen 10.32 per cent over 2012.

The latest official data received from different producing countries is up to July and this shows that production was more in all countries in July except Sri Lanka where it fell by 2.33 million kg (mkg).

“According to our compilation, global black tea production so far this calendar has risen to 1109.24 mkg from 1005.46 mkg in 2002”, Rajesh Gupta, publisher of annual Global Tea Digest, told Business Line .

Industry sources project the global black tea output this calendar to rise to a record 2,870 mkg from 2,767 mkg last year.

India continues to top the global black tea table till July producing 546.79 mkg (up by 33.84 mkg). Based on this, industry sources project the country’s output at a record 1,160 mkg surpassing the hitherto record of 126.30 mkg of last year.

Kenya comes a distant second at 251.85 mkg posting a whopping increase of 69.36 mkg over 2012. Production has currently slowed due to dry weather but improvement is predicted as occasional showers have started coming.

Sri Lanka follows at 194.93 mkg (up 5.70 mkg). Bangladesh has produced marginally higher output of 24.19 mkg, Malawi and Indonesia are the only ones to report a lower output. Malawi lost 1.13 mkg to produce 31.87 mkg. Indonesia lost 1.20 mkg to produce 33.30 mkg.

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