Indian tea exports saw a double-digit fall during the five years between 2006 and 2011. India has reported 11.63% decline during the period.
According to a recent estimate by the Tea Association of India, exports of Indian tea came down to 193 million kg in 2010 against almost 219 million kg in 2006. Exports of tea continued to decline during the January-July period this year and came down to 90 million kg against 107 million kg last year.
While Sri Lanka also witnessed a decline in exports, it was much better positioned compared to India. Sri Lanka?s exports came down to 298.5 million kg in 2010 from 315 million kg in 2006.
Roshni Sen, deputy chairman of the Tea Board of India, said the global economy went through a turmoil during the period and that had some reflection in the five-year statistics.?Although realisation in the export market has improved, tea gardens have to concentrate more on increasing exports,? she said.
?In the last few years the quality of the crop in Kenya and Sri Lanka have improved. They have also concentrated on value added tea,? Sen added.
Average auction price for Indian tea during the January-June period was R145.63 per kg against R30.52 per kg in the corresponding period last year.
?Although there is marginal improvement in unit value of export, decline in the quantum of tea exports is quite disheartening,? said DP Maheswari, president of the Tea Association of India and managing director of Jayshree Tea. Despite higher realisation, earning from exports during theJanuary-June period in 2011 declined to R1,086 crore from R1,184crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.