As India's tea exports reach their highest in years, a sharp rise in imports is raising concerns among producers. In 2024, India took the third spot in tea exports, pipping Sri Lanka after exporting 254.67 million kg (mkg) of tea, up from 231.69 mkg in 2023.
Greenpeace says samples of leading brands tested contain unacceptable levels of dangerous chemicals.
Planters from Assam said despite the Covid-19 pandemic, trade enquiries from China had been rising. However, owing to the growing conflict, enquiries may dry up. 'We have seen how the trade dried up in case of the Pakistan conflict and fear the same,' a planter from Assam said.
Tea growers and traders in India can heave a sigh of relief now with the country's tea export to Pakistan showing tremendous improvement.
Indian exports are set to reach the targeted $80 billion mark by the close of 2007, thus raising the country's share in global exports to one per cent, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Rajiv Pratap Rudy
Chai Sahay, an artificial intelligence-based mobile app, will be primarily used to issue advisory, disseminate information related to various schemes of the board for the sector as well as provide real-time weather updates, says Avishek Rakshit.
Out of the 745 gardens in Assam, which accounts for over 55 per cent of total tea production, an alert has been sounded for 88 gardens, while for West Bengal, out of the 377 gardens, 65 have been cautioned.
At 235,000 tonnes per annum, Pakistan is the third largest importer of tea in the world as it can't grow tea because of adverse climate conditions. India supplies just about a tenth of tea imported the neighbouring country
The world-famous Darjeeling tea is losing its flavour even as it struggles with falling production, says Avishek Rakshit.
Over the years, India has also lost its CTC market heavily to Kenya. And, Sri Lanka, which markets the Ceylon tea brand, has also been able to aggressively tap these markets.
A minimum levy of 12 per cent GST on tea will increase the cost, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The unrest in the hills has led to the tea sector losing its entire second flush, and Rs 200 crore of its annual earnings.
Sale of India's specialty tea varieties from exclusive estates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are on the rise in the domestic market, and sought after in overseas markets too.
In a tough action, the Government on Thursday barred Greenpeace India from receiving foreign funds with immediate effect by suspending its licence for six months and froze all its accounts, alleging it has "prejudicially" affected the country's public and economic interests.
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