The production of tea in the country stood at 67.21 million kg in April, as excessive rainfall hit plucking in the top producing north-eastern state of Assam, as per data compiled by Tea Board. This is a drop of 14.66% as compared to a production of 78.76 million kg from a year earlier period. India is the world’s second biggest tea producer and exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) grade mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK, and the orthodox variety to Iraq, Iran and Russia.
The production of tea in North India slipped 6.86% to 50.23 million kg in April 2016 as compared to 53.93 million kg production in April last year. The production in West Bengal rose 3.03% to 17.33 million kg as compared to 16.82 million kg last year in April, while output in Assam dropped by 11.33% to 31.16 million kg in April 2016.
Tea production in South India slipped by 31.61% to 16.98 million kg as compared to 24.83 million kg in April last year. The production in states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka stood at 12.12 million kg, 4.51 million kg and 0.35 million kg, respectively.