India Sees Significant Growth in Tea Exports from April to September

New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) India’s tea exports experienced a remarkable growth of 13.18 per cent in value, reaching Rs 3,403.64 crore during the initial half of this financial year (April-September), compared to Rs 3,007.19 crore in the same timeframe last year, according to recent statistics from the Tea Board.

In terms of volume, tea exports climbed by 8.67 per cent, totaling 122.55 million kg during this period, as opposed to 112.77 million kg the previous year.

India exports tea to over 25 countries globally, with the UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, the US, and the UK being the primary importers. In the 2023-2024 period, the UAE, Iraq, and the US imported tea worth US$ 131.18 million, US$ 88.54 million, and US$ 77.62 million respectively from India.

Ranked among the top five tea exporters globally, India accounts for approximately 10 per cent of total tea exports. The Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri varieties from India are renowned as some of the finest teas worldwide. Notably, black tea constitutes about 96 per cent of India’s tea exports. The diverse types of tea exported include black tea, regular tea, green tea, herbal tea, masala tea, and lemon tea. Specifically, black tea, regular tea, and green tea make up around 80 per cent, 16 per cent, and 3.5 per cent of the total tea exports from India.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, India's total tea exports reached 250.73 million kg, valued at US$ 776 million.

To enhance production, create a unique brand for Indian tea, and ensure the welfare of families involved in the tea sector, India has undertaken several initiatives.

The Small Tea Growers (STGs) sector is a growing contributor, accounting for nearly 52 per cent of total tea production, with approximately 2.30 lakh STGs in the supply chain. The following measures have been implemented for this segment:

The Government of India, via the Tea Board, has facilitated the establishment of 352 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 440 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and 17 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).

Numerous seminars and interactions have been conducted with STGs focusing on quality plucking, capacity building, and managing peak cropping periods. Additionally, support has been extended for acquiring pruning machines and mechanical harvesters.

Mini tea factories have also been established to foster entrepreneurship among the youth and provide employment opportunities.

The Indian tea sector directly employs around 1.16 million workers, with an equal number indirectly linked to the industry.