India’s Tea Exports Surge To 10-Year High

New Delhi: India’s tea exports touched a 10-year high at 255 million kg in 2024 despite the uncertainties in the global market triggered by geopolitical tensions, data compiled by the Tea Board of India shows.

The country’s exports shot up by a robust 10 per cent during the year from the corresponding figure of 231.69 million kgs recorded in 2023, according to the figures showed. The average price of Indian tea in the export market also went up by 10 per cent, bringing welcome relief to the tea industry, which had been hit by inclement weather in 2023.

There was a sharp increase in shipments to Iraq, accounting for 20 per cent of tea exports, and merchants are expecting to send 40-50 million kg to the west Asian country this fiscal year, he said. Indian exporters, who entered several markets of West Asia when the Sri Lankan crop was low, managed to retain the shipment volumes there, he said.

India exports tea to more than 25 countries, with UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, the US and the UK as the major markets.

India is among the top five tea exporters in the world, accounting for about 10 per cent of total world exports. India’s Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas are considered some of the finest in the world. Most the tea exported out of India is black tea, which makes up about 96 per cent of total exports. The other varieties include regular tea, green tea, herbal tea, masala tea and lemon tea. India has taken several steps to boost tea output, create a niche brand for Indian tea and ensure the welfare of the families associated with the tea industry.