For the first time ever, tea prices surge by 40-60% due to severe scarcity

Strong demand from buyers especially for quality teas supports uptick

For the first time ever, average tea prices in the country’s auctions rose by 40-60 per cent, driven by strong buyer demand and a huge shortfall.

According to Tea Board data, in the first auction held in May, prices surged by over 52 per cent to Rs 217.12 per kg in Guwahati.

In a similar auction in Siliguri, prices surged by around 39 per cent to Rs 204.25 a kg. By mid-May, prices in Guwahati rose by 61 per cent to Rs 217.12 while Siliguri maintained the 39 per cent surge.

“This is a record for Indian tea industry and such a price