Tea exports are estimated to have dropped by volume in the January-December 2011 period to 186.7 million kg from 193 million kg in the same period the year before.
According to official statistics, export earnings were, however, higher and were valued at Rs.2,759.80 crore against Rs.2,595.20 crore. This was due to higher unit value realisation averaging at Rs.147.8 a kg.
As per estimates, although India missed the 1,000-million kg mark in production, it managed a 21.9 million kg increase to 988.3 million kg as compared to 966.4 million kg in 2010.