Tea exports up 4% in value; dip in S India production drags overall output

Tea exports have seen an over four per cent increase (in value terms) during the seven month period from April to October this year to over ₹2,318 crore. The corresponding figure for the same period last year stood at ₹2,225 crore (approximate).

According to provisional data released by the Tea Board of India, exports in quantity terms increased by 7.25 per cent to 119.25 million kg (mkg) during these seven months against 111.19 mkg in the year-ago-period.

Increase in exports has been seen in major tea importing countries such as Russia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, UAE, Iran, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The period also saw a minor dip in production (of less than one per cent) to 946.49 mkg. Production in the April to October period of 2014-15 stood at 953.59 mkg.

The fall in production was mainly reported in South India. Production there dipped to 148.58 mkg (155.8 mkg). North India, however, saw a 0.08 per cent increase in production to 798.39 mkg (797.79 mkg).

However, the tea sold at the various auction centres all over India saw an over three per cent dip, despite production going up (by a marginal 0.5 per cent).

Auction price (all India average) stood at ₹128.35/kg (132.45) during April to October this fiscal.

Prices across both North and South India auction centres saw a dip. Price in the North Indian auction centres stood at ₹148.48 (152.71), while in the South centres it was at ₹78.59 (81.37).

According to the Tea Board data, production of bought leaf factories (BLF sector) increased on an all India basis by nearly 2 per cent to 310.58 mkg.

The increase is mainly on account of the BLF sector’s increase in production in North India to 249.23 mkg for the period under review. In the corresponding period last year, it was 242.14 mkg.

South India, however, witnessed an over four per cent decrease in production, with BLFs producing 148.58 mkg (155.8 mkg).

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