Tea Board plans to take trade team to U.S.

In a bid to sustain the high level of exports, the Tea Board is proposing to take trade delegations to the U.S. and China. It has already taken a similar delegation to Dubai in February.

Indian tea exports had touched 240.7 million kgs in 2017. Five importing countries helped India reach this export level. ``This level is sustainable with a possibility of enhancement,’’ S Soundararajan, Director Tea Development, Tea Board of India, said.

In several countries, including the U.S., the Indian teas were sold at prices higher than the average export price of $ 3 per kg. And encouraged by this export buoyancy, a 15 % rise to 275 million kgs by 2020 now seems reachable.