EXPORTS -- 6:

INDIA’S TEA EXPORTS TAKE A BEATING IN JANUARY 2017

P S SUNDAR

                     India’s tea exports have taken a beating in calendar 2017.

There has been a decline in the volume shipped and the value earned in January 2017 compared to January 2016, reveals our analysis of the latest data available with Tea Board.

A rise in the asking price led to reduced purchases resulting in lower overall earnings.  Besides, a reduction in the availability of tea for exports due to inadequate production of South Indian teas obstructed the free flow of volume for shipment.

In January, India’s tea exports dropped to 19.02 mkg from 20.37 mkg in January 2016, marking a decline of 6.63 per cent even as exporters raised the asking price to ` 194.98 per kg from ` 189.93, up by 2.66 per cent.   

Consequently, India’s export earnings dropped to ` 370.86 crore from ` 386.89 crore, marking a decline of 4.14 per cent.

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