After the European market, it’s West Asia which the Indian tea makers are exploring.

A trade delegation comprising of officials from the northern and southern tea associations have left for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to explore the potential of exporting tea in the traditional West Asian nations.

The delegation consists of representatives from the Indian Tea Association (Ita) and United Planters Association of Southern India (Upasi) and it hopes to come back with positive orders, a tea board official told Business Standard.

Saudi Arabia and UAE were very good markets for Indian tea and had the potential of becoming re-export markets, the official said and added that with Dubai being one of the major business hub for exporters from all over the world, the Indian beverage was sure to find a lot of new buyers.

There are many Islamic nations who do not want to deal directly with non-Islamic countries, but would purchase from traders in these nations, the official said.

Dubai will also be a lucrative destination as from there tea could be exported to our immediate neighbour Pakistan because trade with the country stands hampered due to political reasons.

The neighbouring country had expressed desire to import tea during the India International Millennium Tea Convention held in March and an Indian delegation might go to Pakistan next year.

Moreover, the official added that Dubai was also ideal for marketing of Indian varieties like the Darjeeling, Assam and Dooars because of the presence of a large number of buyers including Unilever.

Both Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are major markets for bulk and packaged varieties of the beverage.

While exports to the former nation stood at 3.6 million kgs in 1999, it was 17.3 million kgs for the latter. The official added that the delegation would also be visiting Egypt where tea, despite having a huge market potential, has very little presence.

During the calendar year 1999, tea exports to Egypt were a mere 1.2 million kgs, a huge decrease from the previous year’s imports of 6.6 million kgs.

Lower exports during 1999 have forced the country’s tea producers to scout for newer markets. India’s tea exports during the year stood at 191.7 million kgs as against 210 million kgs in 1998.

(16/11/2000)

Business Standard

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