India’s tea exports declined both by value as well as volume between January and November 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 according to Union Commerce Ministry statistics. Tea is India’s best known agro exports
With shipments dropped to 185.68 million kgs against 193.7 million a year ago, indicating a 4.1 per cent drop. Earnings dropped by 6.6 per cent touching Rs 3612.8 crores against Rs 3866.9 croers in 2013. The unit price of Indian teas have dropped by 2.5 per cent available statistics show. However this eems to be part of a world trend in 2014,
Increased output by Kenya and Sri Lanka, two of India’s arch rivals in the international tea arena and India’s crop loss in some of the best tea producing months are reasons behind this performance sources said. Till November, official statistics pegged India tea crop at 1126.9 million kgs which was 16.3 million kgs lower than 2013.
Barring the sub-Himalayan terrains in North Bengal tea production has recorded drops across the country. Led by Assam (which gives 50 per cent of the crop), ouput is lower in Darjeeling, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Most of the crop was lost due to adverse weather conditions like erratic rainfall.
