Erratic Weather Impacts Tea Production In India

"Southern states, however, have come out of low crop trap, which grappled the tea plantations over the past four years," Sanjith said on the margins of the association's 121st annual conference here, about 520 km from Chennai.

Production worldwide increased 6.5 percent (298 million kg) in 2013 to 4,907 million kg from 4,609 million kg in 2012, with China contributing 1,925 million kg, followed by India (1,200 million kg), Kenya 433 million kg, Sri Lanka 340 million kg and Vietnam 180 million kg.

China also continues to account for bulk of the increase in production, with 135 million kg, followed by India 74 million kg, Kenya 63 million kg, Sri Lanka 12 million kg and Vietnam 6.3 million kg, as weather conditions were favourable in the top five producing countries.

"Though 2014 started with a decent carry-over crop from 2013, production trends in the first seven months (January-July) indicate a lower crop due to adverse weather conditions in most of the tea-growing regions. Hence, crop worldwide is expected to be 15 million kg lower this year over 2013," Sanjith added.

Read More: 5 States Claim Half Of 4 Years' Investments In Public Sector