Q1 Tea Exports Rise 77%To Rs 514.62 Cr

Local tea exports have shot up by 77 per cent in the first quarter of 1998 to Rs 514.62 crore from Rs 290.44 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In volume terms, exports in the first quarter have increased by 24 per cent to 46.5 million kg from 37.76 million kg during the period under review.

These figures were announced by S S Ahuja, chairman, Tea Board, at the thirty-sixth annual general meeting of Tea Association of India (TAI).

"The year 1997-98 was significant as we achieved the landmark production figure of 838 million kg", said Ahuja. The tea industry has moved closer to its ambitious target of achieving 1000 million kg at the end of the Ninth Plan, he added. Tea exports have gone up to 211.76 million kg last year against 169.4 million kg in the

previous year. Exports contributed Rs 1,954 crore last year to the industry which had brought in Rs 1301 crore in the previous year.

Ahuja said packet tea exports rose to 90.42 million kg from 78.97 million kg in 1996. Exports of tea bags increased to 2.13 million kg from 1.39 million kg.