Production of first flush tea predicted to be laid low with persisted dry spell in North Indian estates
Indian tea fees are probable to rule company this 12 months on an expected drop in manufacturing, especially of first flush tea, following a dry spell within the North Indian estates of Assam and West Bengal, and projections of a buoyant demand in global markets .

According to enterprise insiders, Assam and North Bengal have rarely had any rain considering October closing year. This is possibly to impact the production of first flush tea, plucking for which starts from mid-February and normally is going on until April.

“It is difficult to estimate the precise crop state of affairs at present, but the widespread sentiment is that the crop may be lower in view that there has been no rain or moisture. We will come to recognise the exact role in April,” Sujit Patra, Secretary, Indian Tea Association, instructed BusinessLine.

Estates in Assam and West Bengal produced close to 126.4 million kg (mkg) in 2022. First flush usually bills for around 10-12 according to cent of the overall crop produced in these estates annually.

If the rainfall situation improves by means of the second week of March, the crop outlook might enhance, said Kaushik Das, Vice-President, ICRA.

Tea expenses at auction centres in each North and South India are marginally better this yr, compared with the equal duration last 12 months. For example, for the week ending February 18, the price at the Kolkata public sale centre turned into at Rs 153.26 a kg, at the same time as there has been no sale of tea within the identical duration closing year; on the Guwahati auction centre the price became at Rs 139.Forty eight a kg (Rs 134.08 a kg); on the Cochin auction centre Rs 150.34 a kg (Rs 140.42 a kg); Conoor Rs 117.6 a kg (Rs 102.50 a kg) and Coimbatore Rs 127.83 a kg (Rs one hundred ten.92 a kg), in line with Tea Board facts.

Export to support costs

The us of a ha sub-everyday production for 3 consecutive years among 2020 and 2022 on the one hand, whilst better export volumes brought about sizable tightness in pipeline inventory. This is also possibly to offer a few guide to bulk tea expenses within the new season.

Exports from North India have been up to about 30 mkg at 143.89 mkg valued at around ₹four,414 crore at some stage in January-December 2022 against 113.96 mkg valued at around ₹three,473 crore within the same length ultimate yr.

Sri Lanka is possibly to check in lower production this yr as well, on the returned of an economic slowdown, and Indian tea might be able to cater to markets that have been earlier serviced by means of Sri Lanka, industry sources said. This would lead to firm demand for Indian teas in distant places markets, thereby, retaining prices company.

India’s total exports grew via nearly 15 in keeping with cent at 226.Ninety eight mkg during January-December 2022 against 196.Fifty four mkg in the identical duration last year, subsidized through better call for from the Russian Federation, the CIS and UAE markets.