Decline in Indian tea exports.
Tea exports from India have registered a decline of around 14.4% in the first seven months of 2021 as compared to the same period last year. According to the Tea Board data, the total exports during January to July 2021 were 100.78 million kg as compared to 117.56 million kg in the same period of 2020.
However, the CIS block continued to be the largest importer of tea at 24.14 million kg, down from 30.53 million kg in the previous same period. Although shipments to Iran were significantly reduced due to sanctions, the Persian country imported 12.63 million kg in the first seven months of this year, up from 21 million kg in 2020.
the impact of US sanctions
Exports to China were also down by 3.29 million kg from 5.74 million kg in the first seven months of 2020. The offtake by the UK was also lower during this period, the data in the current period being 3.12 million kg. The only exceptions are USA and UAE where exports have registered growth in this period of 2021. India Tea Association (ITA) general secretary Arijit Raha has said that this is because exports to Iran, which was once a big buyer of Indian tea, bought less tea from us due to sanctions by the US.
The other major reason is the unavailability of shipping containers which have become very expensive during the COVID times. The value of tea exports rose to Rs 2,735 crore in the first seven months of this year as compared to Rs 2,635 crore in the same period last year.
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