Tea exports dip 13.24 pc in April-February

NEW DELHI: Tea exports from India, the world's second-biggest producer, dipped by 13.24 per cent to $695.64 million during April-February this fiscal due to slowdown in global market.

The exports during the same period last fiscal stood at $801.82 million, a commerce ministry official said.

The official, however, said that demand in some countries such as Pakistan, Iran and Russia is gradually improving.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the UK, Iraq and the UAE are major exports destinations for Indian tea.

In February, exports were up by 12.36 per cent to $64.92 million against $57.78 million in February last year.

Further, tea exports to Pakistan, one of the biggest international markets for tea, are gradually picking.

Pakistan is one of the top three tea importing countries with a consumption of 220 million kg.

As per estimates, during January-December 2013, Pakistan imported 25 million kg of tea from India, compared to 20 million kg in the corresponding period of 2012.

In 2012-13, India's tea exports were 216.23 million kg. The total output was 1,135 million kg in the same period.

On the output front, as per the data of the Tea Board, during April-January period of the fiscal, the production was 1137.61 million kg.

The main tea growing areas in the country are- Assam, Darjeeling, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.