Come January 2018, tea producers from Assam and West Bengal can expect higher prices in auctions as well as direct sales, as tea availability is projected to come down in these areas owing to a shortfall in production.
Tea production in Assam, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the annual production in the country, fell by 27 per cent to 81.75 million kg (mkg) in September because of unseasonal torrential rain. The production in West Bengal’s Dooars region dipped by 19 per cent to 43 mkg in the same month.
While industry officials reported a 5-6 per cent crop recovery