Dubai 2nd largest export destination of Indian, Sri Lankan tea

DUBAI: Dubai is the second largest export destination for Indian and Sri Lankan tea, according to the Dubai Tea Trading Centre (DTTC).

It said tea traded through Dubai reached over Rs 2,780 crore (2 billion dirhams) during the first nine month of last year, according to data provided by Dubai Customs.

"Dubai has positioned itself as a major global hub for the tea trade. Not only is Dubai the second largest export destination for Indian and Sri Lankan tea, the DTTC is the partner of choice for the major tea producing countries including Kenya, Uganda and Indonesia," DTTC said in a release.

According to the Tea Board data, India had exported 45.52 million kg of tea to West Asian countries in 2010-11. Total tea exports were 213.78 million kg of tea in 2010-11.

DTTC, which is an initiative of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), is the partner of choice for the major tea producing countries including Kenya, Uganda and Indonesia.

According to DTTC data, over 8,500 metric tonnes of tea, bulk and tea bags, passed through its warehouse last year, approximately three quarters of which were distributed to the Middle East, with the remaining destined for the US, China, Europe and West Africa.

DTTC warehouses tea from over 10 producing countries, including Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and China.