INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Tea industry is looking at declining exports in 2021The tea industry is bracing for a decline in exports to the tune of 30-40 million kg
this yearas compared to 2020, due to the availability of low-cost varieties in the global market and amid trade restrictions in countries
that have traditionally been strong importers, industry sources said.The coronavirus-induced economic downturn in much of the world is
also a factor for falling shipments, they said.For the period between January to March this year, exports fell by 13.23 per cent as against
the corresponding period a year ago, and by 29.03 per cent compared to 2019, as per Tea Board India data.Altogether, 45.86 million kg tea
was exported from India between January to March in 2021
The figure was 52.85 million kg in 2020 and 64.62 million kg in 2019.The dip in the share of shipments from North India has been more
compared to South India since the last three years.While the tea export share of South India fell by 5.41 per cent in 2021 between January
and March compared to the same period in 2020, the decline was 25.85 per cent compared to 2019.In case of exports from North India, the
figure for the three-month period was lower by 17.83 per cent as against 2020 and 31.04 per cent compared to 2019."Indian exports have
suffered in the last two-three years due to very low prices of Kenyan and Sri Lankan tea. Kenyan tea auction price average is below
$2 dollars per kg, which is much lesser than our auction average," Dinesh Bihani, secretary, Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association
