Amid fears of a severe impact of the Gorkhaland stir on the Darjeeling tea industry, there is some good news for the exporters of the world-famous aromatic tea.
Export of Darjeeling tea this year is expected to increase by 10% on the back of rising demands from two new markets ? China and East European countries. UK, Germany and Japan have been the traditional markets for this premium brew with the US being the recent entrant. But China and East European countries are expected to provide Darjeeling tea exports a big boost this year.
According to Darjeeling Tea Association chairman S S Bagaria, export of the brew to China alone is likely to soar to 1 lakh kg this year from 40,000 kg last year.
?We have started to export Darjeeling tea to China from 2010. Consumptions of this beverage are increasing at a very encouraging rate there. We sold 40,000 kg in China during 2012. But this year exports till September stood at 60,000 kg. So, total export to the country during 2013 is expected to touch 1 lakh kg on the back of huge consumptions,? Bagaria told FE.
He said the demand for the brew was also increasing in East European countries, the other new market for the exporters. ?We are exporting to the East European countries for the last two years. Last year, the total volume of export to these countries was 20,000 kg and this year it should increase,? he stressed.
Bagaria said Darjeeling tea producers were instrumental in creating awareness about the world-famous brew as well as popularising the premium beverage in China and East European countries. Indian Tea Association (ITA) chairman A N Singh, who is also managing director of Goodricke Group, seconded Bagaria, saying export prospect for this year was ‘pretty good’.
?With black tea consumptions growing in China, definitely there are good demands for Darjeeling tea in that country,? Singh said, adding Goodricke was also trying to explore this new market.