Indian tea industry records highest ever production, export in FY18

Indian tea industry has recorded the highest ever production as well as exports in FY18. The total tea production was 1325.05 million kgs, an increase of 74.56 million kgs as compared to 2016-17. In percentage terms the increase is around 6%.

Similarly, the total quantity of tea exported during the financial year 2017-18 stood at 256.57 million kgs, while the foreign exchange realized from exports of Indian tea was $ 785.92 million.

The quantity of tea exports increased by 12.71% to 28.94 million kgs during 2017-18 as compared to the corresponding period last year, while the revenue earned from exports saw a rise of $ 95.19 million (13.78%).


In rupee terms, the total value of the exports was pegged at Rs. 5064.88 crores during 2017-18. The value realisation increased by Rs. 432.38 crores (9.33%).

The growth in exports was majorly driven by the following countries: Egypt (increased by 7.49 million kgs), Iran (increased by 6.95 million kgs), Pakistan (increased by 4.96 million kgs), China (increased by 2.91 million kgs) and Russia (increased by 2.89 million kgs).

The earlier record for the highest quantity of tea exports was during the financial year 1976-77 when the total quantity exported was 242.42 million kgs.

The trend towards a new record in exports was evident in 2017 (January-December) itself as the total quantity of exports stood at 251.91 million kgs, an increase of 29.46 million kgs (13.24%) over 2016, with value realisation at US$ 766.06 million, rising by US$ 100.90 million (15.17%).