India’s Tea Exports Remains Stagnant in First 8 Months

India’s Tea exports remained nearly stagnant in the first 8 months of 2019 i.e. from January to August, as per the Tea Board data. It said tea exports stood at 162.18 million kilograms during the period from January to August 2019 in comparison to 162.15 million kilograms in the same period last year (2018).

Offtake by CIS nations that figure among the top importers traditionally, are lower in the current 8 months at 36.63 million kg compared to 41.35 million kg registered in January to August 2018. The other important importing country Iran showed a steep jump at 40.96 million kg in January to August 2019 as against 17.98 million kg in the last eight months.

Tea exports to neigbouring Pakistan during January to August 2019 period stood lower at 6.09 million kg as compared to 10.37 million kg in the previous corresponding 8 months of 2018. Beijing, another major tea producing & consuming country, showed a flat growth in exports in the first 8 months of 2019 at 6.27 million kg in comparison to 6.28 million kg of 2018.

Hence the average unit realisation in the first 8 months of 2019 stood at Rs. 7.65 / kg as against Rs. 0.14/ kg in the previous first 8 months. Tea exports from India during 2018 stood at 249.11 million kg.