Kolkata, June 17: India recorded total tea production of 1233.14 million kgs during the financial year 2015-16, which is the highest ever recorded by the country so far. As compared to 2014-15, the total tea production registered an increase of 35.96 million kgs which is 3% more than last year.

Indian tea achieved another milestone during the financial year 2015-16 when it registered export figures of 232.92 million kgs valued at Rs. 4493.10 crore, breaching the 230 million kgs mark after 35 years.

As compared to the financial year 2014-15, the quantity of tea exports increased by 33.84 million kgs (17%), while in value terms, the increase is by Rs. 669.46 crore (17.51%).

Increase of tea exports were registered mainly to Russia, Iran, Germany, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE and Poland.

The increase in production of tea was mainly attributable to North India where increase in production is by 52.74 million kgs (5.52%). However, South India’s production declined by 16.78 million kgs (-6.95%) due to adverse climatic conditions and labour issues in Kerala.

The all-India production of tea estates increased by 1.62%, while the production of the Bought Leaf Factory (BLF) sector increased by 5.81%, which indicates increase of small tea growers’ share in production. Thus, about 33.85% of the total tea production is being contributed by small growers. Among the major tea growing states, the share of small growers to the production is highest in Tamil Nadu (53.16%) followed by West Bengal (40.4%) and Assam (27.55%).

CTC tea production constitutes 90.93% of the total tea production at 1121.35 million kgs, increasing by 23.19 million kgs, compared to last year. Orthodox production constitutes 7.51% at 92.60 million kgs, increasing by 8.47 million kgs as compared to last year, while green tea production constitutes 1.56% and stood at 19.19 million kgs, increasing by 4.30 million kgs.

TEA EXPORTS DURING 2015-16 VIS-À-VIS 2014-15