Tea production declines by 3% in July

Tea production in India, the world's largest producer, declined by nearly 3 per cent in July to 123.1 million kg over the year ago period.

In July 2009, the production stood at 126.7 million kg, the Tea Board data said.

It said that the decline was mainly due to the fall in production in Assam by about 4.6 million kg.

In North India, production declined to 102.8 million kg from 106.4 million kg.

However, tea output in southern states remained almost flat at 20.3 million kg in the month under review as against 20.5 million kg in the similar month a year ago.

During the January-July period of 2010, tea output rose marginally to 462.1 million kg, against 460.8 million kg in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The production of tea in North India in the first seven months of current year declined by nearly 4 per cent to 315.1 million Kg as against 328.8 million kg.

However, the tea production in South India increased to 147.1 million kg in Jan-July period this year as against 132.1 million kg in the corresponding period last year.