India’s tea exports in value terms may well surpass the target of $883 million in FY 23 with Iran and Saudi Arabia showing greater receptibility of Indian Orthodox Tea, according to commerce ministry projection. This comes in the wake of lower production of Sri Lankan Tea, which has dropped by 30 million kg till June this year compared to the production between January and June in 2021.

Citing the Sri Lanka Tea Board data, PK Bhattacharjee, secretary general, Tea Association of India (TAI) told FE that Sri Lanka which predominantly produces orthodox tea produced 132.92 million kg during January and June this year against 161.71 million kg during the same period last year. The gap in Sri Lankan Tea production has mainly helped India to tap the Iranian and Saudi Arabian markets in a larger way and Indian Orthodox tea exports to this region are expected to cross 55 million kg by the end of the fiscal. In the last fiscal, India exported 52.6 million kg to Iran and UAE markets.

Imported teas are cheap, as no one imports quality teas. The entire concept of importing teas is to make a cheaper blend, which sells easily in the market. Such teas sell based only on their low prices, not on their quality. But, such cheap teas have a vicious consequence - they make tea undesirable, thus reducing tea consumption, resulting in a tumbling demand, and finally depressing prices. This is the observation made by Tea Association of India (TAI) president Ajay Jalan.

Kolkata, Oct 10: Tea Board will commission a study on patterns of domestic consumption of the beverage in the coming years and how to increase it in the face of rising production, an official said. The official said the Tea Board will appoint an agency which will conduct an in-depth study on how to increase domestic consumption of tea over the coming years, adding that it will be carried out across the country by taking random samples. Also Read - Mulayam Singh Yadav passes away at 82 In 2021, the domestic consumption volume of tea was around 1100 million kg. According to the official, in spite of having a big domestic consumption base, per capita intake of beverage in the country is low when compared to global standards. India is the second largest producer of tea after China. In 2021, the total consumption of tea was 1,145 million kg, out of total production of around 1,330 million kg, registering a rise from 1,257 million kg in 2020. Also Read - India records 2,424 new coronavirus infections, 3 deaths The official said tea is generally considered as a commodity due to its low price, adding that it can be positioned as a refreshing drink. Owing to its low price, people consider coffee as a symbol for social status. The official said regarding awareness, Assam Tea and Darjeeling Tea are the most recognized by virtue of their origin as compared to Nilgiri Tea. P K Bhattacharya, secretary-general of Tea Association of India (TAI), a leading body of producers, said domestic consumption has to increase on face of rising production. "There has to be a balance between production and consumption. This is mainly because exports, which went upto a high of 255 million kg in 2019, is now around 200 million kg". If domestic consumption does not rise in tandem with production, then there will be inventories to be carried forward and have a depressing impact on the prices, he stated.

https://assamtribune.com/national/tea-board-to-commission-study-on-domestic-consumption-patterns-official-1442780

Kolkata, Oct 10: Tea Board will commission a study on patterns of domestic consumption of the beverage in the coming years and how to increase it in the face of rising production, an official said. The official said the Tea Board will appoint an agency which will conduct an in-depth study on how to increase domestic consumption of tea over the coming years, adding that it will be carried out across the country by taking random samples. Also Read - Mulayam Singh Yadav passes away at 82 In 2021, the domestic consumption volume of tea was around 1100 million kg. According to the official, in spite of having a big domestic consumption base, per capita intake of beverage in the country is low when compared to global standards. India is the second largest producer of tea after China. In 2021, the total consumption of tea was 1,145 million kg, out of total production of around 1,330 million kg, registering a rise from 1,257 million kg in 2020. Also Read - India records 2,424 new coronavirus infections, 3 deaths The official said tea is generally considered as a commodity due to its low price, adding that it can be positioned as a refreshing drink. Owing to its low price, people consider coffee as a symbol for social status. The official said regarding awareness, Assam Tea and Darjeeling Tea are the most recognized by virtue of their origin as compared to Nilgiri Tea. P K Bhattacharya, secretary-general of Tea Association of India (TAI), a leading body of producers, said domestic consumption has to increase on face of rising production. "There has to be a balance between production and consumption. This is mainly because exports, which went upto a high of 255 million kg in 2019, is now around 200 million kg". If domestic consumption does not rise in tandem with production, then there will be inventories to be carried forward and have a depressing impact on the prices, he stated. PTI

https://assamtribune.com/national/mulayam-singh-yadav-passes-away-at-82-1442700?infinitescroll=1

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Mr. Ajay Jalan, President, Tea Association of India addressed in presence of the Director, Faculty and Students of Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bengaluru (IIPMB) on 4^th August 2022.