Tea exports to pick up in the second half

 Indian Tea Association (ITA) chairman Chandra Kant Dhanuka said exports during September-March this year would be more than the same period last year.

 His optimism was based on the expectation that demand for Indian teas would grow in the world market in the second half. During the first half, exports went down by about 36-37 million kg.

 He said the poor performance in the first half was mainly due to steep decline in exports to Russia and Iraq.