Tea Board

Exports gained when production in troubled island nation dropped sharply in 2022; to maintain that momentum as its competitor bounces back, domestic industry's challenge will be to focus on quality

Sri Lanka crisis, sanctions on Russia that made sourcing from other countries difficult help domestic industry post better numbers

Exports of tea from India increased by 14.8 per cent to 140.28 million kilograms in the first eight months of the 2022 calendar year, according to Tea Board data. Tea shipments during the January-August period in 2021 stood at 122.18 million kilograms (mkgs). The CIS countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, remained the largest importer of Indian tea with 30.56 mkgs in the first eight months of 2022, marginally higher than 29.13 mkgs shipped out to these nations in the year-ago period, the data said. Sources in the industry said that tea exports did not pick up substantially due to shipping and container costs which skyrocketed due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. After the CIS countries, UAE was the second largest importer at 23.84 mkgs, a rise of 157 per cent from 9.27 mkgs in the similar period in 2021. Owing to economic sanctions imposed by the US on Iran, tea shipments to the west Asian country also failed to increase in the first eight months of 2022. Expo

'Tea price trajectory of the last decade reflects a prolonged phase of stagnation in price growth which consequently pushed a large segment of the industry into crisis'

The Tea Board has sought an assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the industry in the next five years starting 2022-23. Chairman of Tea Board Saurav Pahari said that in the budget submitted to the Union Commerce ministry, focus has been on handholding the small tea growers (STGs) which contribute to 52 per cent of the total production in the country. "We have sought an assistance of Rs 1,000 crore in the budget submitted to the ministry for a period of five years starting 2022-23", Pahari told reporters after the AGM of Indian Tea Association (ITA) here on Thursday. He said that the budget is primarily intended to handhold the STGs which contribute to 52 per cent of the country's production volumes. Pahari said the Tea Board had also sought subsidy for orthodox tea production which has a good export market. "It is good to note that the tea industry on the whole now acknowledges the contribution of the STGs. It should be collaborative effort between the big tea planters and the STGs for

The Tea Board, in its notification, has kept the sanctity of GI intact and allowed blending only for teas not claiming the GI mark

Existing notification bars blending imported tea with GI-tagged Indian varieties; Sources said commerce ministry left it to the Board to take a reasoned call on modification

Data available on the Tea Board website showed that India's production in 2020-2021 had stood at 1,283.03 million kg and volumes at the auctions were around 547 mkg

As an initiative, ex-factory auctions can be organised from satellite warehouse points instead of tea being brought to Guwahati for sale

There was a huge oversupply of tea last year and this was corrected to a large extent when the Tea Board ordered non-plucking of tea in December, he said

For Assam alone, output in April plunged 76% from a year ago to 10.99 million kg, the Tea Board said

Indian tea growers should focus more on orthodox tea manufacturing which has a good export market

Campaign to showcase Assam variety starts in Odisha, will be taken to other states soon

He said that the Tea Board's role should only be restricted to issuing licences for opening up the auction centres after duly checking their financial capabilities

Tea Board deputy chairman Arun Kr Ray said that this exercise is required for long-term sustainability of the industry as costs are rising and prices of tea have been flat at auctions

After losing a case in the Calcutta HC against ITC over a trademark issue, the board has appealed to the Division Bench of the same court and it is hopeful that the issue can be sorted out amicably

Plans are to trace the movement tea across the supply chain, from plantation to sale

India's tea exports to Pakistan during January-August 2019 stood at 3.14 million kg, valued at $4.80 million, against 6.17 m kg (worth $9.02 million) during the same period last year

Widespread availability of low-grade leaves adds to companies woes as auction prices dip in Kolkata and Guwahati

The main export markets for India are Iran, China, UAE, Pakistan and CIS countries like Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan