PRODUCTION -- 22:

GLOBAL BLACK TEA OUTPUT DOWN 19%

BY P S SUNDAR

Adverse weather in many producing countries is taking a toll on global black tea output.

“Our compilation of the latest official data from different countries shows that the world black tea production so far this year has fallen to 104.01 million kg (mkg) from 127.75 mkg in the same period of 2016”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest, told me.

This shortfall of 23.74 mkg marked a decline of 18.59 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 8.27 mkg to produce 39.71 mkg.

Prolonged dryness has affected harvest in these countries. 

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)