FOR THE REOCRD -- 91:
EXPORTS -- 3
OMICRON VARIANT THREAT MAY HIT INDIA’S WINTER TEA EXPORTS:
LOW CHRISTMAS SALES FEARED
By P S SUNDAR
The threat of various stages of lockdown and closure of
entry for foreigners and foreign goods in many countries due to the now-spreading
Omicron variant of coronavirus is causing a new challenge and concern to India’s
tea exports.
“Although it is too early to gauge
the impact of Omicron on India’s tea shipments, we are concerned that Christmas
markets are being closed in some European countries for fear of the spread of
coronavirus in any variant form. Over a
dozen countries have taken precautionary measures to close borders at least for
a few days now”, L Vairavan, an exporter told me.
“Some parts of Germany have announced
that rising Covid-19 cases is causing so much concern that protecting people is
their priority for which lockdown is imposed.
We fear that this will have a cascading impact in other parts of Europe
as well. Transport restrictions mean
lesser possibility to export tea”, he said.
Generally, when winter
builds up in Europe and more so in the CIS with waterways freezing, transportation
becomes difficult and tea exports suffer. Last
year also, Covid lockdown along with harsh winter in such countries affected smooth
trade for Indian tea.
“Many countries used to
import our tea ahead of Christmas to build stocks during harsh winter but this
year, exporters had a testing time with shortage of sea containers and
prohibitive transportation cost. In some
cases, importers pointed out that transportation cost was more than the tea in
the container”, Vairavan said.
Till August, the latest
period for which Tea Board’s official data are available, the price of exported
Indian tea rose to an average of ₹ 272.92 a kg from 230.84 in Jan-Aug 2020,
marking an increase of 18.23 per cent.
But, the higher price
pulled down the volume shipped to 118.84 million kg (mkg) from 134.47 mkg in
Jan-Aug 2020 – a decline of 11.62 per cent.
However, because of the
higher price, the overall earnings from exports rose to ₹ 3,243.37 crore from ₹
3,140.04 crore in Jan-Aug 2020 – a gain of 4.49 per cent.
Germany matters a lot
to Indian tea exports price-wise and earnings-wise. Germany is among the few countries which
bought a higher volume of tea from India this year paying a higher price than last
year. This year, Germany imported 5.78
mkg (Jan- Aug: 5.16 mkg) at ₹ 343.84 a kg (₹ 250.47 a kg) spending ₹ 198.74
crore (₹ 129.24 crore).
The CIS continued to
top India’s tea export table but with a lower volume, price and value than last
calendar. CIS imported 28.18 mkg (34.51
mkg) at ₹ 188.44 a kg (₹ 164.97) spending ₹ 531.02 crore (₹ 569.32).
Volume-wise, Iran
followed at 15.47 mkg (23.87 mkg) paying ₹ 254.74 a kg (₹ 267.23) and spending
₹ 394.08 crore (₹ 637.87 crore).
Price-wise, Ireland
paid the highest price of ₹ 748.65 a kg (₹ 742.59).
Value-wise, next to the
CIS, the USA topped at ₹ 408.23 crore (₹ 254.40 crore).
also reachable by clicking:
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/omicron-threat-may-hit-indias-winter-tea-exports/article37783769.ece
(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)
FOR THE RECORD -- 90:
FOR THE RECORD -- 88
ISRAEL SUPPORT TO IOT-BASED IRRIGATION AT ALLADA VALLEY ESTATE..
SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS TO MODERNISE INDCO FACTORIES..
TEA BOARD SUSPENDS REGISTRATION OF ESTATES..
TEA BOARD DISBURSES SUBSIDIES..
TEA BOARD FIXES LOWER GREEN LEAF PRICE..
INDIA'S TEA PRODUCTION ON THE RISE..
GLOBAL BLACK TEA PRODUCTION IS ALSO RISING..
(Articles in The Assam Review and Tea News, Sept 2021)
BY P S SUNDAR
(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)
HAPPENING -- 8
TEA
FAMILIES’ DIVERSIFICATION VENTURES:
VAKHARIA
FAMILY’S LATEST MOVE
BY
P S SUNDAR
The
most significant development among the youngsters in the tea fraternity is to
go for diversification without compromising on their core business of tea. Given the reality that the thoughts and approach
of the youngsters in the tea industry and trade are acceptably contemporary,
the way diversification happens can be broadly grouped into two categories – those related
to the tea business and those related to other business but involving the tea
fraternity.
The
latest in this endeavour has happened in Mecca of South India’s tea – Coonoor. Those in the tea industry and trade for years
will know of Raj Traders – a Gujarati Vakharia family run tea trading business headquartered
in Coonoor. Started by Ramesh Vakharia in 1972, this
family’s tea business will enter Golden Jubilee next year.
 |
| RAMESH & VARSHA VAKHARIA |
DILIP & BHAVANA VAKHARIA
Of
late, the two heirs – Jatin (wife: Ekta) and Nishant (wife: Sradha) have added
colour to their business culture by going in for a variety of diversifications. The most favourite among this diversification
portfolio is The Chai Wala at Bedford circle in upper Coonoor where one can
enjoy a variety of liquid tea as also authentic home-style cooked Gujarati vegetarian
dishes. Many times, it is pleasure to
see Bhavana and her two daughters-in-law Ekta and Sradha cook and serve even as
Nishant treats guests to a connoisseur tea delight.
NISHANT & SRADHA VAKHARIA
Moving
away from this, Jatin, along with Ramesh and Varsha and ably assisted by Ekta,
runs J C Tiles – one shop solution for many construction requirements.
Now, Jatin and Ekta have brought in another dimension with their new show room – Technocraft. This has consumer durables like TVs, Refrigerators, Washing machines, mobile phones, iron boxes, kitchen equipments including chimneys and electrical bulbs and fittings. Located near UPASI, this is hailed to be a new shopping centre in Upper Coonoor.
JATIN & EKTA VAKHARIA
 |
| EKTA VAKHARIA EXPLAINING TO CUSTOMERS |
More
importantly, I saw many tea industry and trading personalities keenly enquiring
about the products on display on the inaugural day on Oct 25, 2021.
Some
such persons told me that they can henceforth purchase almost at their doorstep
here rather than having to go to lower Coonoor or far away Coimbatore city.
Given the five-decade old business connection the Vakharia family enjoys, it should be possible to script a new business chapter with this endeavour.
(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)
FOR THE RECORD -- 87:
MIGRANT LABOUR IN TEA ESTATES..
INDIA'S TEA PRODUCTION RISING..
MORE TEA IN THE WORLD..
RISING TEA PRICES..
TEA BOARD FIXES GREEN LEAF PRICE..
EXORBITANT SPENDING ON TEA IMPORTS INTO INDIA..
TEA INDUSTRY EXEMPTED FROM LOCKDOWN..
DONATIONS TO THE FUNDS TO FIGHT COVID..
PRAYERS IN BILLIMALAI TEMPLE TO RID THE WORLD OF CORONAVIRUS..
FOR THE RECORD -- 86:
INDIA'S TEA PRODUCTION RISES..WORLD BLACK TEA OUTPUT INCREASES..COVID-19 SECOND WAVE THREAT..CTTA EARNINGS ON THE RISE..NEW PRICE RECORD BY AVATAA TEA..TEA EXPORTS DECLINE..TEA BOARD FIXES GREEN LEAF PRICE FOR SMALL GROWERS IN THE NILGIRIS..GOLDEN LEAF INDIA AWARD CONTEST BEGINS..
FOR THE RECORD -- 85:
