Kolkata–India’s tea exports grew by over 8.3 per cent to 216.99 million kg during January to November period of 2017 as compared to 200.36 million kg exported in the corresponding period of 2016.

According to provisional data of Tea Board India, tea exports, in value terms, stood at Rs 4,269.47 crore during the eleven months of 2017, up by about 6.3 per cent from Rs 4,016.26 crore in the year-ago period.

In volume, tea exports to CIS countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and others, were at 56.11 million kg in the period under review of 2017, up from 54.14 million kg in the same period of 2016.

Exports to Britain, however, fell to 13.81 million kg in January-November period of 2017 as against 15.28 million kg in the year-ago period while exports at 9.1 million kg to Germany during the period were also down marginally from 9.8 million kg exported in corresponding months of 2016.

However, tea exports to Iran went up to 24.85 million kg in January-November of 2017, from 21.21 million kg in the year-ago period.

As much as 8.54 million kg of tea was shipped out to Egypt during eleven months of 2017, up from 3.4 million kg in the year-ago period.

Tea exports to the neighbouring country Pakistan stood at 12.29 million kg in the period under review, as against 11.22 million kg exported in the corresponding period of 2016. India’s tea exports to China during the period were at 7.44 million kg, up from 4.68 million kg.

India’s tea production, in November 2017, stood at 118.9 million kg, down by 7.79 per cent from 128.94 million kg produced in the year-ago month.

In November, the estimated crop in north India – which includes West Bengal and Assam – fell by 11.39 million kg to 98.35 million kg.

South India’s tea production in November 2017 grew by 7.03 per cent to 20.55 million kg.