Tea output jumps in Sept

Output stood at 144.11 million kg in the same month last year

Tea output in India jumped by 12.6 per cent in September due to higher output in West Bengal and the southern regions, to 156.7 million kg as compared to 144.1 mn kg in the same month last year.

Combined output in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka increased by 55.6 per cent to 23.9 mn kg in September from 15.35 mn kg in the month last year. It rose in West Bengal by 10.7 per cent to 41.7 mn kg from 37.7 mn kg earlier. Assam, the largest producing state, showed a marginal decline of 0.75 per cent to 87.8 mn kg from 88.5 mn kg in the same period a year before.

Assam and West Bengal are the two major producing states, accounting for 85 per cent of the output in September.

India is the world's second-largest producer and the biggest consumer of tea. Output in India rose 3.6 per cent to 1,135 mn kg in 2012-13,  from 1,095 mn kg in 2012.

The Board-supported World Tea & Coffee Expo, the country’s only international trade show dedicated to the tea and coffee sector, is to be held here on February 6-8, 2014.