Indian Tea Industry Worried About 288% Jump in Imports from Kenya

Guwahati India, the world’s largest tea producer after China, has become the largest importer of the beverage from Kenya.

According to the tea board of kenya, experts to India shot up from 3.53 million kg from January to October 2023 to 13.71 million kg during the same period in 2024. The 288% Jump Makes India The Country Importer of Its Teas, It Said.

India’s Tea Exports also Increased From 184.46 Million kg from January to October to 2023 to 209.14 Million Kg During the same Phase in 2024, The Tea Board of India ‘ Said. The increase was by a tad more than 13%.

Assam and West Bengal Accounted for the Bulk of the Teas Exported.

The leap in tea importants from kenya have been a cause of concern for tea producers and traders in India, which have been grappling with oversupply for some time time tim By more than 50 million kg in 2024 with assam recording a crop loss of about 20 million kg.

“The imports from kenya in recent months have been alarming as the oversupply in India has kept the pris of local teas in checks Substandard Teas from Iran and Vietnam for Blending and Re-Exporting as Indian Teas, “A Tea Producer Said.

“Unconstrolled Imports of Tea and Their Re-Export as Indian Tea Affects The Image, Demand, Demand, and Price of Indian Tea. Exporters of Genuine, Qualitative Indian TEA Have Been Hit of Exporting Lower-grade Imported Tea as Indian Tea.

The average price of the important teas from kenya is ₹ 156.73 per kg compared to ₹ 252.83 per kg fetched by assam tea in auctions up to October 2024.

Tea Industry Captains Attributed the entry of cheaper teas to the abolisment of the north Indian tea council which monitured the quality and minimum Residue Limit (of Pesticides) Compliance of Teas.

The Indian Tea Players are also worked by the possibility of teas old-stock teas in kenyan storehouses being with pushed into India. They have also noted out the possibilities of low-quality teas from other African Countries Such as Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, and Ugandan Tanzania Reaching INDIA Reaching India Through in in in Kenya.

“About 119 Million Kg Tea of ​​Kenyan Tea Has Been Unsold for a Year Due to Government Regulation in that Country on the Minimum Price Fixed Auctions. From neighbouring African Countries Lesser Known For Production The Beverage, “Dinesh Bihani, The Secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association Said.