Tea production up by 16 per cent in July: Govt data

NEW DELHI: India's tea production increased by 16 per cent to 155.06 million kg in July on account of higher output in West Bengal and Assam, says government data.

Output stood at 133.02 million kg in the same month last year, the Tea Board said in an estimate.

In Assam, tea production was up by 20.20 per cent to 92.90 million kg in July from 77.29 million kg in the same month last year. Output in West Bengal increased 26.89 per cent to 41.71 million kg in July from 32.87 million kg a year earlier.

Assam and West Bengal are the two major tea-producing states, with their combined output accounting for 87 per cent of the output in July.

In south India, tea output declined by 17.86 per cent in July to 16.83 million kg.

India is the world's second-largest producer and the biggest consumer of tea.

The country's tea production increased 3.62 per cent to 1,135 million kg in 2012-13 while output stood at 1,095 million kg in 2012.