India’s earnings from tea exports till May in the current calendar year have risen by 11.48 percent despite a fall in the volume shipped, reveals an analysis of the latest data with the Tea Board.

The prices for the Indian teas have risen to average ₹258.16 a kg from 215.76 in January-May 2020 since the dip in Kenyan tea production, which meant that every kg fetched ₹42.40 more than in January-May 2020 – an increase of 19.65 percent.

With higher unit prices, the overall earnings from tea exports rose to ₹1,834.74 crores from ₹1,645.85 crores in January-May 2020. This meant an increase of ₹188.89 crores or 11.48 percent in the country’s exchequer.

Although this trend was visible in both North and South, the South Indian tea exports fared better.

In the South, the export prices rose to an average of ₹228.41 a kg from ₹191.83 in January-May 2020 – an increase of 19.07 percent – but this reduced the volume shipped to 31.45 mkg from 32.23 mkg – a fall of 2.42 percent. However, because of the higher price, the overall earnings rose to ₹718.36 crores from ₹618.27 crores in January-May 2020 – a gain of 16.19 percent.

In the North, the export prices rose to an average of ₹281.77 a kg from ₹233.28 in January-May 2020 – an increase of 20.79 percent – but this reduced the volume shipped to 39.62 mkg from 44.05 mkg – a fall of 10.06 percent. However, because of the higher price, the overall earnings rose to ₹1,116.38 crores from ₹1,027.58 crores in January-May 2020 – a gain of 8.64 percent.