Tea exports up by 12.7 % in 2017-18

Tea pickers working in an estate in Munnar in Kerala

Tea pickers working in an estate in Munnar in Kerala   | Photo Credit: K.K.MUSTAFAH

Egypt, Pakistan and China were among the countries which bought more Indian teas last fiscal.

Overcoming the setback due to the prolonged agitation in Darjeeling, India increased its tea exports by 12.7 % to 256.6 million kgs in 2017-18.

The output of the internationally-acclaimed Darjeeling tea was only 2.8 million kgs in 2017 against the average 8 million kgs produced in the eastern Himalayan slopes in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district between March and October. The lower crop was due to the shut-down clamped by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, demanding a separate state.

``The trend towards record exports was evident in 2017 (January to December) when exports stood at 251.9 million kgs,” a release from Tea Board said.

Egypt, Pakistan and China were among the countries which bought more Indian teas last fiscal. Egypt’s imports increased by 144 %. Pakistan increased imports by 44.5 % and China by 47.8 %, according to Tea Board.

Led by South India, Indian tea output increased by 5.9 % during 2017-18 to touch 1,325.1 million kgs.

Director (Tea Development) at Tea Board S. Soundarajan said that production of high-value orthodox tea and green tea increased during the year under review. These teas are in great demand in high value markets such as Iran, Germany and Japan.