The export of tea from India has risen by 18.1 percent to 185.31 million kilograms between January and October 2022, up from 160 million kilograms in the similar previous first ten months.
The CIS block countries remained the largest importer at 43.65 million kilograms during the first ten months of 2022, up from 36.95 million kilograms in the same period the previous year, according to data from Tea Board Indicated.
UAE emerged as the second largest importer in 2022, with 32.95 million kilograms, significantly higher than the previous similar period’s 12.45 million kilograms.
Iran, which had been a big importer of the Indian orthodox variety, imported 19.52 million kilograms in the period January to October 2022, down from 21.45 million kilograms in those 10 months in 2021.
According to the Secretary General of the Tea Association of India (TAI), P. K. Bhattacharya, though shipments to Iran had fallen, the silver lining is that the UAE has surfaced as a major importer after the CIS blockade.
According to tea industry sources, it is unclear why Iran is not placing orders with India and has abruptly stopped buying in the last two months. An industry source claimed there has been no response from the Tea Board on this issue.
Russia remained the largest importer in the CIS block at 32.80 million kilograms in the first 10 months of 2022. Industry sources said shipments to Russia got affected due to the logistics difficulties caused in the aftermath of the armed conflict with Ukraine, which is continuing.
The UK and the USA were moderate buyers at 8.33 million kilograms and 10.42 million kilograms in the first 10 months of 2022.Last year, the trade earned USD 650 million in foreign exchange, up from USD 590 million in the same period the previous year.