Led by Kenya, the global black tea production is heading for a shortfall this calendar year.
“Global black tea production so far this year has fallen to 566.55 million kg (mkg) from last year’s figure of 586.63 mkg. This fall of 20.08 mkg marks a decline of 3.42 per cent,” Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual ‘Global Tea Digest’ told BusinessLine.
Kenya is the major contributor to this fall. Its production has declined to 105.42 mkg from 152.05 mkg. Other African countries, Malawi and Uganda, have also reported lower production while Tanzania’s output remained flat.
On the contrary, Asian countries have reported a higher production. North Indian production rose to 176.09 mkg from 154.25 mkg (up by 21.84 mkg). South Indian production rose to 98.84 mkg from 90.82 mkg (up by 8.02 mkg or nine per cent. Sri Lanka’s production edged up to 142.97 mkg from 141.46 mkg.