India imported more tea at a higher average price, between January and April this year, than that in the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics released by the Indian Tea Association.
During the period, India imported 6.37 million kg (mkg) at an average price of Rs 81.90 a kg against 4.78 mkg at an average price of Rs 68.63 a kg in the corresponding period a year ago.
The largest quantity was imported from Nepal 1.71 mkg (1.40 mkg), followed by Kenya 0.95 mkg (0.99 mkg); Vietnam 0.94 mkg (0.25 mkg); Indonesia 0.88 mkg (1.03 mkg); Argentina 0.47 mkg (0.23 mkg); China 0.31 mkg (0.33 mkg); Sri Lanka 0.12 mkg (0.14 mkg) and Malawi 0.11 mkg (0.10 mkg).
Dearer one
The Sri Lankan tea, mostly orthodox, did cost dear at Rs 260.61 a kg (Rs 152.11 a kg), followed by the Kenyan variety Rs 122.73 a kg (Rs 86.12 a kg), Chinese tea Rs 91.66 a kg (Rs 63.19 a kg), tea from Malawi Rs 81.34 a kg (Rs 62.59 a kg) and from Nepal Rs 72.25 a kg (Rs 60.60 a kg).
The cheapest import was from Vietnam Rs 56.37 a kg (Rs 50.37 a kg), followed by Argentina Rs 56.51 a kg (Rs 48.01 a kg).
India's tea exports during the period recorded a sharp decline of 12.5 mkg at 50.3 mkg (62.8 mkg in the corresponding period of 2008). The export of North Indian tea dropped 8.4 mkg at 26.9 mkg (35.3 mkg) and of the South Indian variety 4.1 mkg at 23.4 mkg (27.5 mkg).
Promising exports
However, the average export price was up Rs 29.43 a kg at Rs 127.37 a kg (Rs 97.95 a kg). The average export price of North India tea was up Rs 36.8 a kg at Rs 148.69 a kg (Rs 111.89 a kg) and of South India tea Rs 22.84 a kg at Rs 102.9 a kg (Rs 80.06 a kg).
As a result, the value of export was up Rs 24.66 crore at Rs 640.05 crore (Rs 615.39 crore), despite the drop in the volume of exports.
Source : Business Line