News: India's June tea exports jump 63.7 pct y/y

(RTR 10/08/2006) Kolkata - Tea exports from India, the world's largest producer, jumped 63.7 percent in June to 19.63 million kg, from 12 million kg in the same month last year, a top Tea Board official told Reuters.

Exports rose 20.4 percent in May from the same month a year ago after falling in April.

"There were more exports from southern India in June and this explains why we have down very well," Basudeb Banerjee, the board's chairman said in Kolkata.

"Moreover, we could successfully tap the markets in the Middle East and Pakistan, which are very good signs," Banerjee added.

India's tea production in June rose 5.2 percent to 104.33 million kg, compared to 99.21 million kg in the same month last year, officials said.

"Bad weather conditions in tea growing areas of West Bengal and Assam had an impact on production until March, but things are beginning to improve now and it will only get better," Sujit Patra, joint secretary of the Indian Tea Association, said.

But the country's total production in the first half of the year was down 3 percent at 328.22 million kg, compared to 338.51 million kg in the same period last year, Tea Board officials said.

Officials said the outlook for the year remained good.

Taking advantage of a global shortfall, with Kenya still recovering from a drought, Indian tea producers hope to increase exports to 200 million kg by end of 2006, officials said. In 2005 they stood at 187.6 million kg.