Mumbai, Aug 11 - India's tea exports in the first six months of 2008 were up 13.6 percent on rising demand from Pakistan and lower production in Kenya, an official with the Tea Board said on Monday.
Total exports during Jan-June stood at 87.41 million kg, compared with 76.97 million kg a year ago. Production in the period increased 3.3 percent to 345.68 million kg.
"The production short-fall in Kenya is helping Indian exporters," said the official, who did not wish to be identified.
Output in Kenya, the world's largest exporter of CTC (crush, tear, curl) tea, fell 21 percent in the first six months of 2008 due to drought and frost in growing areas. See
The east African grower projects output in 2008 will decrease to 335 million kg from a record 369 million last year.
Pakistan and Egypt are the traditional buyers of Kenyan tea, but this year India has been exporting more tea to those countries due to better domestic production, he said.
Exports from north India rose 17 percent to 44.67 million kg, while that from south India increased 10.2 percent to 42.75 million kg during Jan-June.
India exports CTC tea mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK and the premium orthodox tea to Iraq, Iran and Russia.
Area under tea plantation is estimated at about 521,500 hectares. About 130,000 growers and 1.26 million workers are associated with the industry in the country.