The production of tea in the country stood at 154.26 million kg in August as compared to 150.90 million kg a year earlier, a rise of 2.23%, as per report compiled by the Tea Board. This increase in output is mainly on account of higher output in state of West Bengal. The production of tea in West Bengal increased 11.53% and stood at 43.03 million kg in August from 38.58 million kg a year earlier. In Assam, output was up 0.9% to 93.27 million kg from 92.44 million kg.
The two biggest tea-producing states, Assam and West Bengal, combined output accounts for 90 percent of production in August. In south India, tea output declined 15.8 percent to 17.28 million kg. Tea exports this fiscal year are expected to be maintained at last year’s level of 190 million kg despite export to Pakistan which is the third-largest market for Indian tea have come down.
India is the world’s second-largest producer and the biggest consumer of tea. The country’s tea output increased 3.6 percent to 1,135 million kg in 2012-13.
