Tea production falls by 23 %, exports down 8 % in Jan 2011

Similarily, tea exports went down by 8 per cent to 15.79 million kg in January, according to the latest Tea Board data.

The country had produced 27.09 million kg and exported 17.13 million kg of tea in January 2010.

"Tea production has been affected mainly because of the bad weather conditions in North and South India," Indian Tea Association Joint Secretary Sujit Patra told PTI.

Experts have also attributed the sharp decline in tea production in January this year due to its comparison with a period (January, 2010) when some quantity produced in December 2009 was also included, thereby enhancing the base.

Tea production in Assam, which contributes around 70 per cent of the North India's production and produces the premium varieties of the beverage, declined by almost 37 per cent to 3.42 million kg in January this year against 5.43 million kg in the year-ago period.

Similarly, production of tea in South India registered a decline of 21 per cent to 14.51 million kg from 18.39 million kg during the period under review.

On the decline in exports, Patra said it was on the expected lines as the season for shipments has almost ended.