TEA THINK TANK (Tea Tea Tea) ... (more in http://teathinktank2.blogspot.in/): 2017

Monday 18 December 2017

COONOOR AUCTIONS -- 10:

COONOOR TEA TURNOVER UP 7%

P S SUNDAR

Producers and traders who operated through the auctions of Coonoor Tea Trade Association have earned 7.38 per cent more till last month compared to the same period of 2016.

This has happened despite sacrificing prices by ` 12.17 a kg because 1.04 crore kg more volume was sold, reveals our analysis of the Market Reports.

Till November, 47 auctions had been conducted. To avoid piling of unsold teas following fluctuating demand, producers sacrificed prices. Accordingly, the average price dropped to ` 84.72 a kg from ` 96.89 in Jan-Nov 2016.

This sacrifice helped more tea to be absorbed. The volume sold rose to 5.60 crore kg from 4.56 crore kg.

Consequently, the cumulative turnover in the 11 months increased to ` 474.43 crore from ` 441.82 crore.

This increase of ` 32.61 crore marked a growth of 7.38 per cent.

The increased turnover lay spread among producers, buyers, exporters, brokers, warehouse-keepers and workers.

With only one month left for the year to end, traders predict that the turnover this year would be around ` 510 crore against ` 478 crore achieved in 2016.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Tuesday 12 December 2017

PRODUCTION -- 29

GLOBAL BLACK TEA OUTPUT IS HEADING FOR A FALL THIS YEAR

P S SUNDAR

Global black tea production this year is heading for a shortfall compared to 2016 as the output so far this year has fallen by 22.35 million kg (mkg) over the same period of last year. This is despite India, the world’s largest producer of black tea, reporting a higher output.

“As per the official data received from different producing countries, the global black tea production so far this year has fallen to 1823.69 mkg from 1846.04 mkg in the same period of last year”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest told me.

This fall of 22.35 mkg marked a decline of 1.21 per cent.

The major fall has occurred in African countries due to prolonged adverse weather conditions. Kenya led the decline with as much as 41.03 mkg to dip to 346.97 mkg. Uganda reported a fall of 8.24 mkg to touch 23.75 mkg while Tanzania lost 2.10 mkg to total 18.27 mkg. Malawi managed to post a marginal gain of 0.90 mkg to reach 36.27 mkg.

In Asia, Bangladesh lost 8.81 mkg to produce 51.86 mkg.

On the contrary, Sri Lanka posted the highest increase of 21.48 mkg to soar to 256.70 mkg.

India continued to top the global black tea production table and its production so far this calendar totalled 1089.87 mkg, up by 15.45 mkg. Here, North India suffered a loss of 2.32 mkg to produce 894.23 mkg while South India gained 17.77 mkg to produce 195.64 mkg.

As this increase was not sufficient to offset the major loss in Africa, the overall output fell marginally.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Tuesday 5 December 2017

FOR THE RECORD -- 39:

DARMONA CREATES HISTORY ..

TEA BOARD'S PRICE FIXATION WORRIES FACTORIES..

FACTORY OWNERS SEEK QUALITY TEA SUPPLIES..

HIGHER PRODUCTION IN NILGIRIS TEA SECTOR..

INDIA'S PRODUCTION HIT BECAUSE OF LOWER OUTPUT IN NORTH ..

FALL IN GLOBAL BLACK TEA OUTPUT..

(articles in The Assam Review and Tea News, Nov 2017)

BY P S SUNDAR

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Sunday 26 November 2017

PRODUCTION -- 28:

INDIA HEADING FOR A LOWER TEA PRODUCTION THIS YEAR

P S SUNDAR

India’s tea production which, till August, followed the trend of posting a new record year after year, has failed to adhere to this norm at September end.

September proved to be a disastrous month for North India even as production fell marginally in South India as well following adverse weather conditions.

“Tea Board has now released the September production data which shows that India lost 44.17 million kg (mkg) over September 2016 to total 145.83 mkg. Of this, North India lost 42.14 mkg to produce 127.54 mkg while South India lost 2.03 mkg to produce 18.29 mkg”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest, told me..

“Consequently, our compilation shows that at the end of the first three quarters of current year, India’s production has fallen to 912.55 mkg from 923.27 mkg, marking a marginal fall of 1.16 per cent”, he said.

Helped by higher production in earlier months, South India’s overall output in the ten months has increased over the corresponding period of 2016 but North India is trailing behind last year.

In the ten months, North India lost 25.79 mkg to produce 737.87 mkg. Assam lost as much as 23.33 mkg but topped India’s production table at 464.29 mkg

South India produced 15.07 mkg more to reach 174.68 mkg. Here, Tamil Nadu produced 124.80 mkg (up by 13.22 mkg) and Kerala 46.08 mkg (up by 2.03 mkg).

As of now, industry sources estimate the country’s production in the current year to be around 1257 mkg in 2017 – some 10 mkg less than 2016. If this happens, it will be for the first time in recent many years that India’s production will be less than the previous year.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Wednesday 8 November 2017

FOR THE RECORD -- 38:

AVATAA TEA GIFT PACKS ..

CHANGES IN UPASI ANNUAL MEET..

GOLDEN LEAF INDIA AWARDS..

STOP ADULTERATION IN NILGIRIS TEA..

TEA BOARD FUNDS..

INDIA HEADING FOR ANOTHER RECORD IN TEA PRODUCTION..

FALL IN GLOBAL BLACK TEA OUTPUT...

BY P S SUNDAR.

(articles in The Assam Review and Tea News Oct 2017)

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Monday 16 October 2017

PRODUCTION -- 27:

MORE TEA LIKELY IN THE NILGIRIS ..

BY P S SUNDAR

(article in The New Indian Express)

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor.gmail.com)

Friday 13 October 2017

PRODUCTION -- 26:

AFTER AUGUST..

INDIA HEADING FOR RECORD TEA OUTPUT

P S SUNDAR

Indications are that India is heading for another record production in tea this calendar.

“Tea Board has now announced the August production data showing a six per cent increase in the country’s output over 2016 to total 167.98 mkg. North Indian output rose by five per cent to reach 148.16 mkg while South Indian output increased by nine per cent to reach 19.82 mkg”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest, told me.

Consequently, the cumulative production in the eight months has increased by 33.45 mkg or five per cent. “Our compilation shows that the production in the eight months rose to 766.72 mkg from 733.27 mkg”, Gupta noted.

This means that India is continuing the tradition of posting record production year after year. If this trend continues, the country will end up with a production of 1,300 mkg against 1,267 mkg produced in 2016, opine industry observers.

The bulk of the increase has happened in South India where the production till August rose by 12 per cent to reach 156.39 mkg. North Indian output increased by three per cent to reach 610.33 mkg. Good rainfall has been instrumental in pushing up harvest in tea plantations across the country.

Assam continued to top India’s production table and in the eight months, the state produced 382.54 mkg, up by two per cent over Jan-Aug 2016.

Darjeeling had been trailing behind last year with production falling to 2.07 mkg from 5.63 mkg.

In the South, Tamil Nadu topped at 112.38 mkg, marking a 15 per cent growth. Kerala’s output rose by six per cent to reach 40.61 mkg.

also reachable by clicking ::

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/copyofbl12tea-new-copybl/article9901842.ece..

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Tuesday 10 October 2017

FOR THE RECORD -- 37:

INDIA HEADING FOR RECORD TEA PRODUCTION..

TWO MONTHS AFTER GST, ISSUES CONTINUE ..

MINIMUM PRICE TO SMALL GROWERS CRASH..

CTTA TURNOVER RISE..

BY P S SUNDAR

(articles in The Assam Review and Tea News, Sept 2017)

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Friday 6 October 2017

HAPPENING - 4:

TEA GIFT PACKS FOR DEEPAVALI, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR & PONGAL

BY P S SUNDAR.

It is festive season now and hence gifting season as well. While corporates and individuals are busy scouting for gifts to be given to their business associates and dear ones, for the first time ever, they have a new option of gifting premium Nilgiri teas in specialised packs with signature tags highlighting their identity.

“This is a unique offer. The packs are garnishing! The tins are cute and reusable for long. There is value-addition as consumers can enjoy up to four varieties of the Nilgiri teas. I tasted some of them and believe that they are a wonderful gift during the forthcoming festive season”, Frank Miller, American writer on tea and coffee industry, told me.

He received the first Festive gift pack of four square tin boxes of Avataa teas flavoured with natural essence of tulsi, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon at Billimalai Estate.

“This is a fine gift as the receivers can enjoy four varieties of quality teas at one go”, Miller said.

Frank Miller (right) receiving the First Gift Avataa Tea Pack from Vejayashekara.

“We have come out with 13 varieties of festive gift packs containing premium Award winning Avataa teas manufactured from the hand-picked tea leaves with the quality enhanced due to high location of 6,000 feet above mean sea level in Billimalai Estate”, Avataa Beverages Speciality Tea Production Executive ENR Vejayashekara, who released the Festive Gift Packs, said. He can be contacted on phone: 94430 46111.

“The consumer packs include Avataa teas which have won Golden Leaf India Award of Tea Board and UPASI, the tea which recently created history by fetching Rs 2,086 a kg at Coonoor auctions as the highest-ever price in the whole of South Indian auctions, the one which had fetched Rs 11,500 a kg at Nilgiri winter speciality tea auction, as also those which have won international awards”, Vejayashekara disclosed.

“These are green and black teas in consumer-friendly small boxes with affordable prices. Tea Board had distributed some of our teas at Olympics in the past. We had also successfully launched Valentine Gift Tea. But, this is the first time varieties of premium Nilgiris tea are being offered exclusively as festive gifts for Deepavali, Christmas, New Year and Pongal”, Avataa Beverages Director Udayakumar said.

“Corporates can use these gifts with their signature logos under the theme, ‘Be different; gift different’ stressing on Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ concept”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Thursday 5 October 2017

PRICES -- 9:

GLOBAL TEA PRICES RISE

P S SUNDAR

Tea prices in public auctions in all countries so far this calendar have increased over the corresponding period of 2016 except in North India, reveals our analysis of the Market Reports of various auction centres across the globe.

Sri Lankan teas have fetched the highest average price of US $ 4.06 a kg, significantly higher than $ 2.80 got in 2016.

Rwanda teas came next at $ 3.15 a kg, up from $ 2.49 in 2016.

Kenyan teas got $ 2.99 a kg, up from $ 2.38 in 2016, while Bangladesh got $ 2.32, up from $ 2.15.

All others got less than $ 2 a kg. Indian teas fetched an average price of $ 1.91, almost flat to $ 1.90 got in 2016. Here, South Indian average price rose to $ 1.58 a kg from $ 1.54 but North Indian prices dropped to $ 2.01 from $ 2.06.

In the South, all auction centres posted a higher average price except Coonoor. Kochi got $ 1.84 (2016: $ 1.74), Coimbatore $ 1.52 ($1.46), Coonoor $ 1.38 down from $ 1.43. Teaserve in Coonoor fetched the world’s lowest average price of $ 1.31 a kg ($ 1.24).

also reachable by clicking ::

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/global-tea-auction-prices-rise/article9889313.ece

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Monday 25 September 2017

HAPPENING -- 3:

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NILGIRI PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION

(articles in The New Indian Express)

R Rajkumar, Group Manager, Glendale Estate group, has taken over as Chairman of the Nilgiri Planters’ Association (NPA) for 2017-18.

T V Varghese Vaidyan, General Manager, The Coonoor Tea Estates Co Ltd., has assumed office as Vice Chairman.

The other members of the Executive Committee are: K Jagan Thimaiah (Thiashola), K C Ponnappa (Kotada), Mohamed Iqbal (Chamraj), T Gundan (Robroy), George Varghese (Mailoor), K S Nanjappa (Kil Kotagiri), K P Aiyappa (Dunsandale), K Karthiknarayan (Havukal), Pralav Bhansali (Kairbetta), DVM Premkumar (Kamalin), Sanjay George (Katary), Shanmugavel (Glenmorgan) and L Narayanan (Erinkadu).

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

Thursday 7 September 2017

PRODUCTION -- 25:

INDIA HEADING FOR ANOTHER RECORD IN TEA PRODUCTION

BY P S SUNDAR

Indications are that India is heading for yet another record production in tea in 2017.

“Tea Board has now released the data for July which shows 4.05 per cent rise in the North over July 2016 to reach 136.54 million kg (mkg) and a marginal 1.30 per cent fall in the South to dip to 19.05 mkg”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest, told me.

This meant that in July, the country’s production rose by 3.36 per cent to reach 155.59 mkg.

“Our compilation shows that in the seven months, India produced 598.74 mkg against 574.57 mkg in Jan-July 2016”, Gupta said.

This meant that India produced 24.17 mkg or 4.21 per cent more tea than in the seven months of 2016.

If this trend continues, the country will create yet another record in production which is likely to hover around 1,290 mkg against last year’s 1267 mkg. For the past few years, India has been creating new records year after year.

Cumulatively, both North and South have produced more tea so far this calendar, thanks to good weather.

North Indian production has risen by 8.70 mkg to reach 462.17 mkg. Assam continues to top the production table at 283.75 mkg (down 2.57 mkg).

South Indian production has risen by 15.47 mkg to reach 136.57 mkg. Here, Tamil Nadu’s production increased by 13.54 mkg to reach 98.50 mkg. Kerala produced 2.06 mkg more to reach 35.12 mkg.

also reachable by clicking:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/india-heading-for-another-record-in-tea-production/article9850384.ece

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)