Tea Production Drops 16 In North India Due To Pest Attack (03-Aug-2010)
According to the state-run Tea Board, tea production in India, the world’s second biggest producer, dropped 16% in June after pest attacks damaged the crop in the Northern India, the largest tea growing region in the country. The output in north India, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the total production, dropped 16.43% in June to 76.8 million kilograms (kg) from 91.9 million kg a year ago though, the production grew 4.5% to 212.3 million kg in the six months ended on June 30.
The production of crop in Assam accounts for more than half of India’s total production, it may drop to the extent of 40% during the second flush (refers to the second picking season of the year), according to the tea board Chairman Basudeb Banerjee. The crop in the north eastern state reduced by 20% in June to 50.7 million kilograms from a year ago, data from the board show. The second flush pickings are typically the best-quality leaves that fetch a premium from buyers overseas.
Consequently, in the weekly tea auction, prices in the northeast states jumped to the extent of Rs15 a kilogram in the first two weeks of July because of the damage. According to the tea board, the countrywide production was 104 million kg in June, as against 118 million kg last year, declining about 12%. The report further added that the output in the January-June period increased to 339 million kg from 333.9 million kg a year earlier, up by 1.53%. Exports climbed to 83.9 million kg, valued at Rs 1040 crore.
In Jan-June, the country’s tea exports stood at 83.9 million kg, 12.6% higher on year. However, average realization during the period fell by 6.4% to Rs 123.48 per kg. Tea prices in India have been rising for the past one month due to lower crop in June. Now the North Indian tea are fetching an average Rs100 per kilograms, compared with Rs 95.60 a year ago.
Earlier, India’s total exports in 2009 fell 5.7% to 191.5 million kg, but the trend reversed in December when it rose 36.9% to 22.24 million kg for the month. During the Jan-April period, total exports jumped 20% to 60 million kg compared to 49.8 million kg in the same period last year and various industry estimates indicated that exports during 2010 could cross 205 million kg.
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