India’s tea exports saw significant growth in the January-July 2024 period, with a 23.79% increase year-on-year. The Tea Board of India reported that the country exported 144.50 million kilograms of tea, up from 116.73 million kilograms during the same period in 2023. This 27.77 million kg rise reflects positive momentum in the export market, even though the average price per kilogram slightly declined to Rs 256.37, compared to Rs 264.96 in the previous year.
The Indian government’s Commerce Ministry has approved a Rs 664.09 crore scheme for the development and promotion of the tea industry. The funds, allocated for the 2023-2026 period, will focus on plantation development, quality improvement, market support, technical research, and welfare measures under the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme.
Despite this export success, India’s tea industry faces ongoing challenges, including sluggish domestic consumption growth, rising food inflation, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on exports. As the second-largest tea producer globally, with an output of about 1,350 million kilograms annually, India remains a leading black tea producer, meeting both domestic needs and export demands. The country is the fourth-largest tea exporter, consuming about 18% of the world’s tea production.