India is leading the global black tea bowl into a shortage in the current calendar. Although Sri Lanka and Kenya are also reporting a lower production, the fall in those countries is only marginal.

In the first half of current calendar, the global black tea production has fallen to 871.91 million kg (mkg) from 891.69 mkg in the same period a year ago. This fall marks a decline of 2.22 per cent.

“Of the 19.78 mkg shortage, as much as 17.83 mkg has happened in India. Here again, North India accounted for the bulk of shortage. North Indian production declined by 22.27 mkg, while South India’s output rose by 4.44 mkg. Collectively, India produced 380.93 mkg against last year’s 398.76 mkg,” Rajesh Gupta of Global Tea Digest said.

Sri Lanka lost 0.08 mkg to produce 172.17 mkg, while Kenya lost 0.44 mkg to produce 225.18 mkg.

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