PRODUCTION -- 19:

WORLD TEA BOWL FACES SHORT SUPPLY

P S SUNDAR 

                   There seems to be a shortage in black tea supply in the world despite a marginal increase in India’s production. 

“According to the official data received from different countries, our compilation shows that the world black tea production so far this year has fallen to 85.55 million kg (mkg) from 104.85 mkg in the same period of 2016”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest, told me.

This shortfall of 19.30 mkg marked a decline of 18.40 per cent. 

The shortfall has happened because of lower output in two major producing countries – Kenya and Sri Lanka.   Kenya lost as much as 17.32 mkg to produce 32.99 mkg while Sri Lanka lost 3.83 mkg to produce 21.25 mkg. 

India has traditionally been the largest producer of black tea in the world but as of now, India ranks third after Kenya and Sri Lanka.

“India’s production has increased marginally by 1.04 mkg to total 18.99 mkg.  Here, North India produced 2.459 mkg more to reach 5.86 mkg while South India lost 1.45 mkg to dip to 13.13 mkg”, Gupta noted.  

The global situation is expected to change once North East India recovers from winter and takes up production, say by April.  Thereupon, India is slated to top the world black tea production table as in the past.

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