Coonoor, Aug 27 The country’s tea import bill continued to rise in June. It had increased by Rs 25.57 crore in the first half of calendar 2009 compared with the same period a year ago. An analysis of the latest data available with Tea Board shows that this was because a higher volume was imported paying a higher price.
Between January and June, 10.32 million kg were imported against 8.21 million kg. An average price of Rs 83.39 a kg, almost Rs 10 more, was paid than last year.
In all, the import bill totalled Rs 86.08 crore against Rs 60.51 crore in 2008.
Only trading sources
Impors were from about 15 countries, some only trading sources.
Volume-wise, the highest volume of 3.03 million kg (last year: 2.93 million kg) came from Nepal, followed by Vietnam 1.92 (0.37), Indonesia 1.25 (1.77) and Kenya 1.24 (1.63).
Price-wise, the highest price of Rs 179.06 a kg (last year: Rs 203.23) was paid to UK, then to Sri Lanka Rs 142.85 (Rs 187.70), South Africa Rs 131.14 (last year: no import), Kenya Rs 124.64 (Rs 92.46) and China Rs 104.34 (Rs 69.63).
Source : Business Line