Country’s tea production has increased by 6.5% and stood at 1,200 million kg in 2013, against 1,126.33 million kg a year ago, as per report compiled by the Indian Tea Association (ITA). The production stood at 242.60 million kg in 2013, in southern region, as compared with 239.38 million kg a year earlier while the total production of tea in the northern part of the country (Assam and West Bengal) stood at 957.44 million kg in 2013 as against 886.95 million kg in the previous year.
The average price at the Kolkata auction increased to Rs 157.65 per kg in 2013 as compared to Rs 149.55 per kg in 2012. Besides, the prices at the other auction centres like Guwahati and Cochin had also increased during 2013.
During the nine-month period from January to September 2013 the exports has also seen an increase of 5% at 147 million kg as against 140.2 million kg in 2012. CIS countries had imported maximum of 39.88 million kg of Indian tea during January to September 2013, followed by Iran at 16.47 million kg, Pakistan 12.35 million kg and the US 10.29 million kg, among other countries.