India's tea production has marginally declined to 1,127.7 million (mn) kg in April-January of the current fiscal. The tea output during the first 10 months of the last fiscal stood at 1,137.2 mn kg, according to the data of the Tea Board.
The lower output has been mainly due to unfavourable weather conditions. Besides, wage-related issues also hit tea producers. India is the world's second-biggest tea producer and one of the largest consumers too.
The exports of the beverage have surged 11% to Rs 3,597.4 crore in the first 10 months of the ongoing fiscal, from Rs 3,240.90 crore in the year-ago period. In terms of quantity, total tea exported in the period under review rose to 186.63 mn kg as against 164.88 mn kg a year earlier.