PRODUCTION -- 31:

INDIA PUSHES UP GLOBAL BLACK TEA OUTPUT DESPITE LOSS IN SL, KENYA

 

By P S SUNDAR

 

India has helped to overcome the loss in global black tea production in other major countries like Sri Lanka and Kenya and register an increase over the same period of last year.

 

Compiler of Global Tea Digest Rajesh Gupta told me, “Our compilation of the official data received from various countries shows that the global black tea production so far this year has increased to 600.89 million kg (mkg) from 586.61 mkg in 2021.  This increase of 14.28 mkg posts a gain of 2.43 per cent”.

 

Achieving a higher production has been a serious task because of lower output in many countries.

 

“In particular, Sri Lanka, which is reeling under economic crisis, produced 111.95 mkg against 133.81 mkg in 2021, marking a major decline of 21.86 mkg or 16.34 per cent”, Rajesh Gupta said.

 

“In Kenya, due to adverse weather, production dropped to 135.82 mkg from 140.97 mkg, posting a loss of 5.15 mkg or 3.65 per cent”, he said.

 

Malawi also posted a decline – from 28.82 mkg to 26 mkg, a fall of 2.82 mkg or 9.78 per cent, he noted.

 

However, all these losses were offset by the significant increase in India’s tea production.

 

“Our compilations of the latest data from Tea Board shows that production has risen to 320.06 mkg from 277.09 mkg.   This increase of 42.97 mkg marked a gain of 15.51 per cent.   This meant that increase in India’s production was more than the loss in Kenya, Sri Lanka and Malawi”, Rajesh Gupta explained.

 

India’s production would have been still higher had it not been for a fall in Tamil Nadu due to adverse weather.    “In Tamil Nadu, the output dropped to 63.40 mkg from 68.58 mkg – a fall of 5.18 mkg or 7.55 per cent”, Rajesh Gupta disclosed.  

 

“This pulled down the South India’s overall production to 94.67 mkg from 97.47 mkg, marking a decline of 2.80 mkg or 2.87 per cent”, he said.

 

“North India, on the other hand, produced 45.77 mkg or 25.48 per cent more to reach 225.39 mkg from 179.62 mkg”, he observed.  All regions here produced more except Dooars where the output dropped marginally.

 

Assam continued to top the country’s production table.  With an output of 127.76 mkg, Assam produced 38.85 mkg or 43.70 per cent more than last year’s 88.91 mkg, Rajesh Gupta revealed.

 

West Bengal’s production rose to 91.70 mkg from 85.11 mkg – an increase of 6.59 mkg or 7.74 per cent. 

 

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonor@gmail.com)