Despite India’s lower production, there has been an increase of 1.83 per cent in the overall global black tea output due to significantly higher production in Kenya.

“India’s production so far this year has fallen to 289.76 million kg (mkg) from 304.83 mkg in the same months of 2017. This fall of 15.07 mkg marked a decline of 4.94 per cent”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest , told Business Line.

Still, the overall global black tea output has increased. “As per our compilation of the data received from various producing countries, the global black tea output so far this year has increased to 661.13 million kg (mkg) from 649.23 mkg in the same months of 2017. This increase of 11.90 mkg marked a growth of 1.83 per cent”, Rajesh Gupta said.

Kenya accounted for the largest increase of 27.33 mkg as favourable weather helped the tea output there to rise to 187.70 mkg from 160.37 mkg. Sri Lanka’s output increased by 6.17 mkg to 134.56 mkg from 128.39 mkg. Another African country Malawi produced 2.90 mkg more to reach 32.20 mkg from 29.30 mkg.

However, Uganda, also an African nation, suffered as much as 55.10 per cent loss when its output dropped by 8.10 mkg to 6.60 mkg from 14.70 mkg.

Bangladesh’s production fell marginally by 1.33 mkg to dip to 10.31 mkg.

However, the loss in these nations could not offset the gain posted by Kenya and supported by Sri Lanka and Malawi.

India continued to top the global black tea production table with Kenya and Sri Lanka in the next two ranks.

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