Tea output dips to 1109.80 mn kg in Apr-Dec

India's tea production has marginally declined to 1109.80 million kg in the first nine months of the current financial year, mainly due to adverse weather conditions.
The production stood at 1115.88 million kg in the April-December period of the last fiscal, according to Tea Board data.
Assam and Bengal together contribute more than 85 per cent of the country's total tea production.
Output took a hit this fiscal mainly due to unfavourable weather conditions. Besides, wage-related issues also hit tea producers.
The sector has also been facing other issues including migration of labourers to other industries.
However, the exports surged 9 per cent to Rs 3,218.07 crore in the first nine months of the current fiscal from Rs 2,955.78 crore in the year-ago period.

The total export during the period rose to 166.55 million kg as against 147.96 million kg a year ago.
India, the world's second biggest tea producer, exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) grade mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK, and the orthodox variety to Iraq, Iran and Russia.