Tea production up by 2.51 per cent to 1239.15 million kg in 2016

KOLKATA: Indian tea production for calendar 2016 is marginally up by 2.51% to 1239.15 million kg in 2016 as compare to 1208.66 million kg in 2015, according to figures released by Tea Board of India.

Favourable climatic conditions prevailing during the cropping season have resulted in production in 2016, said a senior executive of Indian Tea Association.

In 2016, Assam has produced 642.18 million kg in comparison to 631.22 million kg in 2015. In West Bengal too, production has gone up to 357.47 million kg in comparison to 324.5 million kg in 2015. South Indian tea production is also up from 212.21 million kg in 2015 to 227.57 million kg in 2016.

However, even though the production has gone up tea exports on the other has shown a declining trend in 2016 in comparison to 2015. Exports have dropped by 2.46% in the period January to November 2016, according to Tea Board data. In the first 11 months India has exported 197.01 million kg of tea in comparison to 202.12 million kg in the same period last year.

Indian tea has faced tough competition in the world market from Kenyan tea in 2016. Kenya had produced 73 million kg more teas in 2016. The ITA executive said that in 2017 Kenyan production may not go up as the African nation has reported very dry and hot condition since the beginning of the year which is likely to affect tea crop.