Page 2 - Tea

Tea exports decline by 1.17% to 207.14 mkgs in first 11 months of 2023

Tea exports from India have declined by 1.17 per cent to 207.14 million kgs in the January-November period of 2023, according to official data. The country shipped out 209.60 mkgs of tea during a similar 11-month period of the previous year. During the calendar year 2022, the total tea exports were 231.08 mkgs. Region-wise, exports from North India, comprising primarily the states of Assam and West Bengal, stood at 125.27 mkgs, down from 132.21 mkgs in the comparable periods of 2023 and 2022 respectively, the Tea Board data said. Shipments from South India during the first 11 months of 2023 increased to 81.87 mkgs from 77.39 mkgs in the previous similar period, according to the data. Industry sources said that the dip in exports was due to the volume loss in the Iran market due to payment problems. The Iranian market constitutes 20 per cent of India's total tea exports after the Commonwealth of Independent States bloc. The sources also said the export scenario for the full calen

Tata Starbucks reports loss of Rs 24.97 cr, revenue up 70% in FY23

Tata Starbucks has reported a net loss of Rs 24.97 crore from its operations in India for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, according to financial data accessed through business intelligence platform Tofler. However, its revenue from operations was at Rs 1,086.89 crore for the said period, up 70 per cent helped by the addition of more cafes and expansion of the network in more cities in India. In India, Starbucks cafes are operated by Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd. It is a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tata Consumer Product Ltd (TCPL) and Emerald City CV, a wholly-owned entity of Starbucks Corporation, USA. Tata Starbucks had reported a net loss of Rs 94.84 crore in FY22 and its revenue from operations was at Rs 636.11 crore. In FY23, Tata Starbucks' Advertising promotional expenses increased 84.45 per cent to Rs 34.05 crore. It was at Rs 18.46 crore a year ago. Besides, it has also paid a royalty of Rs 76.83 crore in the financial year ended March 31, 2023. Tata Starbucks has exp

Tea production declines by 6.18% to 127.12 million kgs in November 2023

Tea production in the country has dipped by 6.18 per cent to 127.12 million kilograms in November 2023. According to Tea Board data, the production in the year-ago month was 135.49 million kgs. In North India, primarily comprising Assam and West Bengal, the production volume was at 106.23 million kgs (mkgs), down from 114.18 mkgs in the same period previous year. The production figures in November 2023 in South India stood lower at 20.89 mkgs from 21.31 mkgs in the same month of 2022. Maintaining the trend, the production of small growers was higher than the organised gardens in the month under review. Small growers produced 67.50 mkgs in November 2023, Tea Board data said. Tea Board had issued notifications regarding plucking restrictions during the winter months in order to preserve the quality of bushes. For tea estates in Darjeeling and gardens located at higher elevations, the last date for plucking of green leaves was December 11, 2023. The same for North Bengal's Dooars a

Tata Consumer Products in talks for acquisitions to expand globally: Report

CEO Sunil D'Souza hinted that the company would not acquire in the sector where there is already fragmentation like fizzy drinks and processed snacks

Tea exports decline 4.93% to to 157.92 million/kg during Jan-Sep

Tea exports from India during January to September declined 4.93 per cent to 157.92 million kg, according to latest Tea Board data. During the first nine months of 2022, exports stood at 166.11 million kg. From North India, primarily the states of Assam and West Bengal, tea exports dropped 6.61 per cent to 96.28 million kg in the reporting period, compared with 103.09 million kg in the corresponding nine months a year ago, the data showed. In the southern region, shipments fell marginally by 2.19 per cent to 61.64 million kg from January to September. During the entire calendar year 2022, tea exports from India stood at 231 million kg. Sources in the Indian Tea Association (ITA), the apex body of planters, said the export scenario remains grim as shipments to Iran are uncertain due to payment issues. The Iran market constitutes nearly 20 per cent of India's total tea exports, followed by the CIS group of countries, they said.

Tea and nickel on agenda as Biden hosts Indonesian President Widodo

President Joe Biden will host Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House on Monday, one day before the US leader leaves for San Francisco to attend a summit of Asian leaders. The two presidents will share an afternoon tea and meet with top advisers, according to senior administration officials who insisted on anonymity to preview the schedule. They will also talk about ways to expand the trade of critical minerals like nickel, which can be used to produce electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said they will explore opportunities to enhance cooperation on the clean energy transition, advance economic prosperity, bolster regional peace and stability, and reinforce our people-to-people ties. Biden's meeting with Widodo comes shortly before he sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Indonesia is the world's third-large

Assam mulls providing subsidised tea to ration card holders from 2024

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters on Saturday that his government was mulling providing tea to ration card holders at Rs 100-150 per kg from 2024 onwards

WATCH | Robots serve tea to PM Modi at Gujarat's Robotics Gallery

#WATCH | Robots serve tea to PM Modi at Gujarat's Robotics Gallery. #robots #pmmodi #modi #gujarat >

Tea cos to witness 8% fall in revenue on decline in exports: Crisil Ratings

The tea industry is likely to witness an 8 per cent year-on-year decline this fiscal due to decreasing export volume following the rise in supply from Sri Lanka, a report said on Friday. The operating profitability of the industry will fall for the second year in a row, shedding 100 basis points (bps) to 5 per cent due to lower realisation, Crisil Ratings said in a report. Profitability had fallen 150 bps last fiscal, primarily because of an increase in wages, the report said, adding that in FY23, wages that constitute 20 per cent of total input cost were hiked by 15 per cent. However, low leverage and negligible capital expenditure (capex) will keep credit profiles stable, the report stated. The tea industry will report 8 per cent year-on-year degrowth in revenue this fiscal, led by a decline in export volume, the agency said. "Domestic demand, which accounts for 82 per cent of sales volume, should remain steady at 1,100 million kg this fiscal. However, exports, which make up 18

Tea auction system not helping in optimum price discovery in N India: CTTA

Tea producers have opined that the new Bharat auction system introduced in North India from April this year is not helping in the discovery of optimum prices of the brew. According to Tea Board data, average price realisation in North India from April to July in 2023-24 was lower at Rs 205.10 per kilogramme as compared to Rs 220.74 per kilogramme in the same period of 2022-23, when auctions were conducted using the English system. The Bharat auction system was introduced in Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri from April this year replacing old the English auction system. Anish Bhansali, immediate past chairman of Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA), which provides the auction platform in Kolkata, said "the English auction system was better for the users. He said the auction prices have been lower in the current year because of the poor demand conditions. "At the end of the day, the issue boils down to the question of demand and supply. Having said that, I feel the English auction ..

Need for real-time data on production, prices of tea: IIPM Director

The government should set up an institutional mechanism to bring out real-time data on production, consumption, trade, and prices for the tea sector, Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) Director Rakesh Mohan Joshi said on Friday. He also said there is an urgent need to bring out enabling policies with targeted interventions to address the rapidly emerging novel issues such as climate change, curtailing production costs and achieving efficiency across the value chain in the sector. To cope with emerging challenges in the tea industry, the government should focus upon adopting an integrated approach to evolve an institutional mechanism with active participation of producing states along with other stakeholders in tea production. "The tea industry, once a gold mine for the British planters and a major source of foreign exchange earnings that played a critical role in India's trade and economy in the last century, struggles today even for survival," Joshi said. India's sha

Tea exports declines by 0.81% to 96.49 million kg during first half of 2023

Tea exports during January to June declined 0.81 per cent to 96.49 million kg as against 97.28 million kg in the corresponding period a year ago, according to Tea Board data. Exports from North India, comprising mainly Assam and North Bengal, marginally increased to 59.16 million kg compared with 59.09 million kg in the year-ago period, it said. However, shipments from South India declined to 37.33 million kg in the reporting period as against 38.19 million kg in January-June 2022. In the last calendar year, overall tea exports from the country stood at 231.08 million kg, registering a rise of 17.57 per cent over 2021, which was at 196.54 million kg. Secretary-General of Indian Tea Association (ITA) A Raha said it is unlikely that exports during 2023 will surpass the figures of 2022. The main cause for this is a slump in demand in the export markets and drop in shipments to Iran, due to payment issues with that country. Iran has traditionally been a major importer of Indian tea a

Tea production increases by 6.2% to 165 million kg during July 2023

Tea production in the country increased marginally by 6.2 per cent at 165.01 million kilogramme during July 2023 as compared to 155.29 million kilogramme in previous similar period. As per the latest Tea Board data, North India tea production during July this year stood at 143.05 million kilogramme, as against 135.77 million kilogramme in the corresponding previous period. Production in South India in July 2023 was also marginally higher at 21.95 million kilogramme as against 19.52 million kilogramme in the previous similar period. The percentage of production by small tea growers (STGs) as a proportion of overall volumes increased to 50.9 per cent in July 2023. Thus was 50.2 per cent in the previous similar month of 2022. In North India, both Assam and West Bengal registered higher production volumes during July 2023. The premium Darjeeling variety crop was lower at one million kilogramme during July 2023, as against 1.04 million kilogramme in the previous similar period, accordi

Himachal govt to provide 50% subsidy on tea-plucking machines, equipment

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to offer 50 per cent subsidy on machines and equipment used to pluck tea leaves to provide relief to the state's tea industry. Small and scattered land holdings, high cost of labour and production, low productivity levels, and not enough tea auction centres are some of the factors hindering tea development in the state, people associated with the sector said. The move is expected to benefit about 5,900 tea growers in Palampur, Baijnath, Dharamshala and Kangra areas in Kangra district, Jogindernagar and Karsog areas in Mandi district and Bhattiyat in Chamba. The landholding of 96 per cent tea growers is less than 0.5 hectares. Earlier, tea growers were not covered under the agriculture tools scheme as equipment used for tea cultivation were different from those used for other crops, Agriculture Secretary Rakesh Kanwar told PTI on Monday. "Now, we have included them and they would get a subsidy for acquiring a certain set of equipment, ...

Demand for quality tea gardens remains robust despite shrinking margins

Margins are shrinking; prices are stagnant, but the demand for quality tea gardens remains as robust as ever

After dry spell, rains may play spoiler for tea industry in Bengal, Assam

Scanty rain in the first fortnight of June has already caused a crop loss of 15-35% in the two states

Significant rise in demand for all categories of tea in Sale 24

A significant rise in demand for all categories of tea was in evidence during Sale-24, a Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA) official said here on Friday. Despite reduced offerings Darjeeling tea improved its demand during this auction, he said. The total demand increased by 17.8 per cent along with increased total offered quantity during the auction as compared to last week, the official added. The auction (Sale-24) was held on June 13,14 and 15. According to CTTA data, the total offerings amounted to 1,48,214 packages (43,83,946 kg) comprising 62,627 packages of CTC leaf, 59,366 packages of orthodox, 3,489 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 22,732 packages of dust tea. CTC leaf again met strong demand and a total of 15,32,140 kg of different categories was sold at a higher average price of Rs 235.26 per kg as compared to last week. Around 23.72 per cent of the total demand was registered for CTC leaf at below Rs 150 per kg level while 45.73 per cent was marked above Rs 250 pe

Mixed trend in demand for different categories of tea during Sale-22: CTTA

Mixed trend in demand for different categories of tea was observed during Sale-22, a Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA) official said here on Friday. The demand for CTC leaf and Darjeeling tea increased while Orthodox leaf and Dust tea marked a weaker trend, he said. The total demand reduced by 3.05 per cent along with reduced offered quantity during the auction as compared to last week, the official said. The auction (Sale-22) was held on May 30 and 31. According to CTTA data, the total offerings amounted to 98,644 packages (28,32,493 kg) comprising 36,056 packages of CTC leaf, 45,103 packages of orthodox, 4,441 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 13,044 packages of dust tea. CTC leaf met good demand and a total of 8,03,325 kg of different categories was sold at an average price of Rs 198.97 per kg. Around 37.92 per cent of the total demand was witnessed for CTC leaf at below Rs 150 per kg level while 26.18 per cent was marked above Rs 250 per kg. Western India operated on be

Except Darjeeling leaf, other categories' demand marginally increased

Barring Darjeeling leaf the total demand for other categories of tea increased marginally during Sale-21, a Calcutta Tea Traders' Association (CTTA) official said here on Thursday. The total demand increased by 4.43 per cent along with increased offered quantity during the auction as compared to last week, the official said. The auction (Sale-21) was held on May 23 and 24. According to CTTA data, the total offerings amounted to 1,05,635 packages (29,44,037 kg) comprising 35,599 packages of CTC leaf, 53,873 packages of orthodox, 3,930 packages of Darjeeling leaf and 12,233 packages of dust tea. CTC leaf met good demand and a total of 7,80,512 kg of different categories was sold at an average price of Rs 184.91 per kg. Around 38.72 per cent of the total demand was witnessed for CTC leaf at below Rs 150 per kg level while 12.57 was marked above Rs 250 per kg. Western India operated on better teas and TCPL primarily engaged in medium variety. Some enquiry was in evidence from exporte

Kenya tea company suspends operations after protesters burn machines

A multinational tea company based in Kenya has suspended operations after tea plucking and harvesting machines were burned by protesters citing massive job losses due to mechanisation. The suspension of operations at the Ekaterra tea company's South Rift region farms will affect thousands of employees. The Kenya Tea Growers Association announced Tuesday that all large-scale tea producers in Kenya will scale down operations in solidarity with Ekaterra until security is guaranteed. Casual labourers previously employed to pick tea protested on Monday against the loss of jobs due to the use of machines. They told local media that, additionally, the automation of the picking process is causing more work for employees in the sorting department because machines do not pick the finest tea leaves. They burned five machines and looted tea products from one of the company's shops. The tea growers association has appealed to President William Ruto to intervene as there have been various other