Production, domestic consumption and export of tea would be higher in the last calender year as compared to the figures in 1999.

Tea Board estimates showed that production of tea in 2000 would be around 830 million kgs. However, the figure was extrapolated as official estimates were available only till November 2000.

In the previous year, production of tea was around 805 million kgs., thus registering a rise of around 25 million kgs. in 2000.

In fact, production would have been higher as the Consultative Committee of Plantation Association (CCPA) had earlier asked member-planters to stop December production due to its inferior quality.

Similarly, figures for consumption of tea during the last year, as per the Tea Board, would be around 653 million kgs, also higher than the previous year's 638 million kgs.

This was arrived on the basis on the model devised by the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, which said domestic consumption was increasing at a growth rate of 1.8 per cent per annum.

In fact, the rise in tea consumption caused much cheer in the industry as the beverage had been facing stiff competition from carbonated drink industry.

The figure for export had been tentatively pegged at 200 million kgs by the Tea Board, however the industry puts it around 205 million kgs.

The export figures for the previous year had been 190 million kgs, with the industry and Tea Board contributing the rise to the higher offtake by West Asia, North African (WANA) countries.

Besides, import of Indian tea was also higher from UK and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to this, the Indian tea industry had been able to make a foothold in Libya.

As regards other markets, offtake by Russia had been more or less stagnant.

(04/01/2001) (04/01/2001)

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