India, September 6, 2023 – Tea exports from India showed a marginal decline of 0.81% during the first half of 2023, totaling 96.49 million kg compared to 97.28 million kg in the same period the previous year, as reported by the Tea Board. The data revealed a mixed performance between North and South India.
Exports from North India, which primarily includes Assam and North Bengal, saw a slight increase, rising to 59.16 million kg from 59.09 million kg in the corresponding period last year. However, tea shipments from South India dropped to 37.33 million kg during January to June 2023, down from 38.19 million kg recorded in the same period in 2022.
In the previous calendar year, India’s overall tea exports reached 231.08 million kg, marking a substantial increase of 17.57% compared to the 196.54 million kg exported in 2021.
A Raha, the Secretary-General of the Indian Tea Association (ITA), expressed skepticism about the tea export outlook for 2023. Raha cited a decline in demand in export markets and a reduction in shipments to Iran due to payment issues as the main reasons for this caution.
Iran has traditionally been one of the significant importers of Indian tea, particularly from the CIS bloc. These challenges underscore the complexities and uncertainties faced by India’s tea industry as it navigates global markets and trade dynamics.
