Tea

COP29 meet: Tea cultivation could decrease by over half, finds study

Agreements might not yet be brewing amongst negotiators at United Nations climate talks, but tea certainly is. It's one of the clearest reminders that the climate summit COP29 is hosted by Azerbaijan. Attendees who roam for miles within the indoor venue have ample options to take a pit stop for sugar and caffeine: shops stack high mountains of pastries with sugary, nutty pakhlava and cardamom-tinged, crescent-shaped shekerbura. At Azerbaijan's country pavilion, women in Baku's traditional dress pour the warm drink for visitors. All of it, like daily life in the city outside, revolves around tea which climate change threatens around the globe. As world leaders descend on the capital city of Baku for climate talks, researchers who study tea report that in some regions around the world, tea cultivation could decrease by over half as rising temperatures, drought, heavy precipitation and erosion batter tea plants and the land they grow on. Scientists are studying ways to improve tea .

Asian tea producers eyeing 'untapped' African mkt for exports: ATA chairman

Tea producers of Asia are now targeting the 'untapped' African market to shore up exports for which they plan to work out a strategy in this regard. Hemant Bangur, chairman of Asian Tea Alliance (ATA), said there is a need to tap the African market. ATA countries include India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. "Africa is a huge untapped and unpenetrated market. The existing export markets of Europe have become saturated. Asian tea producers consider Africa as a focussed market and we will work towards this", Bangur, also the chairman of the Indian Tea Association (ITA), told reporters. Bangur said that the ATA also strongly discourage the promotion of genetically modified clones in the tea industry. "The alliance countries will collaborate to produce more climate resilient clones to produce sustainable tea. The industry also plans to promote regenerative agriculture which will focus on water retention and carbon sequestration," he said. Bangur said that there is a glo

Tata to hike tea prices across brand portfolio over next few months

Tata Tea will implement price hikes across its brand portfolio over the next few months, as it aims to expand its profit margins, which have been hit due to a jump in input prices, a top official said on Wednesday. Parent company Tata Consumer Products expects a rise in overall volumes, which were impacted due to reasons including flooding in urban areas, sluggish rural economy and also general slowdown in growth, its chief executive and managing director Sunil A D'Souza said. The company, which posted a 1 per cent jump in profits in the July-September quarter despite an 11 per cent jump in revenues, feels that the tea prices have shot up by over 25 per cent this year because of supply disruptions. It has started taking "calibrated price increases" while ensuring that there is no demand shock and also ensuring that it stays competitive, D'Zouza told reporters on the sidelines of an event. "... You would see some price implementations every quarter, if not a fortnight, and over a ..

NDMC to provide free tea, snacks to field workers across departments

In a first, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to provide free tea and snacks to its field staff across various departments. This initiative is aimed at supporting over 5,000 employees, including sweepers, gardeners, 'beldars' (groundsmen) and linemen from the electricity department among others, an official told PTI. The official added the decision is on the same lines as practiced in the police and paramilitary forces where the personnel working during the odd hours receive free refreshments. "Our field workers, like sweepers, start their duties as early as 4 am to ensure that streets are clean before the traffic begins. At that time, finding food or tea is challenging, so this is a commendable step," the official said. According to the official, this initiative makes the NDMC the first municipal body in India to implement such a program and the provision of free tea and snacks is a gesture of appreciation and support for the dedication of these workers, who often

Tea prices soar as heatwaves, floods slash output in key producing regions

Production was also affected by the government's decision to ban 20 pesticides

India's craze for 'chai destinations' surges before International Tea Day

Popular Indian tea destinations, Ooty, Palampur, and Chikmagalur, outpace Darjeeling and Munnar in web searches

Industry body TAI seeks release of 'pending' subsidies by Tea Board

Tea Association of India (TAI), a leading body of planters, on Friday sought the release of "pending subsidies" from the Tea Board to carry out developmental activities undertaken at various gardens. The Tea Board has been extending subsidy and financial incentives for undertaking various activities relating to improving production and quality of tea under a scheme covering the period 2007-2017, which was followed by the Medium Term Framework (MTF) from 2017 to 2020, TAI said in a statement. The industry body said gardens under its fold had undertaken substantial developmental activities under the scheme, and a large portion of the amount due to the estates on account of this still remains unreleased by the Tea Board. "The association learns the commerce ministry has stated that with regard to the matter of pending subsidies, Tea Board has informed that all eligible cases where subsidies were sanctioned have been disbursed already... This statement has demoralised the industry as it

PM Modi spends time at tea estate in Assam, promotes tourism around it

Taking to his X handle, he urged tourists to visit Assam's tea gardens during their visits to the state

Higher wage costs, lower price realisation add to tea companies' woes

Both West Bengal and Assam hiked wage rates from June and October 2023, respectively

Tea exports decline by 1.17% to 207.14 mkgs in first 11 months of 2023

Tea exports from India have declined by 1.17 per cent to 207.14 million kgs in the January-November period of 2023, according to official data. The country shipped out 209.60 mkgs of tea during a similar 11-month period of the previous year. During the calendar year 2022, the total tea exports were 231.08 mkgs. Region-wise, exports from North India, comprising primarily the states of Assam and West Bengal, stood at 125.27 mkgs, down from 132.21 mkgs in the comparable periods of 2023 and 2022 respectively, the Tea Board data said. Shipments from South India during the first 11 months of 2023 increased to 81.87 mkgs from 77.39 mkgs in the previous similar period, according to the data. Industry sources said that the dip in exports was due to the volume loss in the Iran market due to payment problems. The Iranian market constitutes 20 per cent of India's total tea exports after the Commonwealth of Independent States bloc. The sources also said the export scenario for the full calen

Tata Starbucks reports loss of Rs 24.97 cr, revenue up 70% in FY23

Tata Starbucks has reported a net loss of Rs 24.97 crore from its operations in India for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, according to financial data accessed through business intelligence platform Tofler. However, its revenue from operations was at Rs 1,086.89 crore for the said period, up 70 per cent helped by the addition of more cafes and expansion of the network in more cities in India. In India, Starbucks cafes are operated by Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd. It is a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tata Consumer Product Ltd (TCPL) and Emerald City CV, a wholly-owned entity of Starbucks Corporation, USA. Tata Starbucks had reported a net loss of Rs 94.84 crore in FY22 and its revenue from operations was at Rs 636.11 crore. In FY23, Tata Starbucks' Advertising promotional expenses increased 84.45 per cent to Rs 34.05 crore. It was at Rs 18.46 crore a year ago. Besides, it has also paid a royalty of Rs 76.83 crore in the financial year ended March 31, 2023. Tata Starbucks has exp

Tea production declines by 6.18% to 127.12 million kgs in November 2023

Tea production in the country has dipped by 6.18 per cent to 127.12 million kilograms in November 2023. According to Tea Board data, the production in the year-ago month was 135.49 million kgs. In North India, primarily comprising Assam and West Bengal, the production volume was at 106.23 million kgs (mkgs), down from 114.18 mkgs in the same period previous year. The production figures in November 2023 in South India stood lower at 20.89 mkgs from 21.31 mkgs in the same month of 2022. Maintaining the trend, the production of small growers was higher than the organised gardens in the month under review. Small growers produced 67.50 mkgs in November 2023, Tea Board data said. Tea Board had issued notifications regarding plucking restrictions during the winter months in order to preserve the quality of bushes. For tea estates in Darjeeling and gardens located at higher elevations, the last date for plucking of green leaves was December 11, 2023. The same for North Bengal's Dooars a

Tata Consumer Products in talks for acquisitions to expand globally: Report

CEO Sunil D'Souza hinted that the company would not acquire in the sector where there is already fragmentation like fizzy drinks and processed snacks

Tea exports decline 4.93% to to 157.92 million/kg during Jan-Sep

Tea exports from India during January to September declined 4.93 per cent to 157.92 million kg, according to latest Tea Board data. During the first nine months of 2022, exports stood at 166.11 million kg. From North India, primarily the states of Assam and West Bengal, tea exports dropped 6.61 per cent to 96.28 million kg in the reporting period, compared with 103.09 million kg in the corresponding nine months a year ago, the data showed. In the southern region, shipments fell marginally by 2.19 per cent to 61.64 million kg from January to September. During the entire calendar year 2022, tea exports from India stood at 231 million kg. Sources in the Indian Tea Association (ITA), the apex body of planters, said the export scenario remains grim as shipments to Iran are uncertain due to payment issues. The Iran market constitutes nearly 20 per cent of India's total tea exports, followed by the CIS group of countries, they said.

Tea and nickel on agenda as Biden hosts Indonesian President Widodo

President Joe Biden will host Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House on Monday, one day before the US leader leaves for San Francisco to attend a summit of Asian leaders. The two presidents will share an afternoon tea and meet with top advisers, according to senior administration officials who insisted on anonymity to preview the schedule. They will also talk about ways to expand the trade of critical minerals like nickel, which can be used to produce electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said they will explore opportunities to enhance cooperation on the clean energy transition, advance economic prosperity, bolster regional peace and stability, and reinforce our people-to-people ties. Biden's meeting with Widodo comes shortly before he sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Indonesia is the world's third-large

Assam mulls providing subsidised tea to ration card holders from 2024

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters on Saturday that his government was mulling providing tea to ration card holders at Rs 100-150 per kg from 2024 onwards

WATCH | Robots serve tea to PM Modi at Gujarat's Robotics Gallery

Tea cos to witness 8% fall in revenue on decline in exports: Crisil Ratings

The tea industry is likely to witness an 8 per cent year-on-year decline this fiscal due to decreasing export volume following the rise in supply from Sri Lanka, a report said on Friday. The operating profitability of the industry will fall for the second year in a row, shedding 100 basis points (bps) to 5 per cent due to lower realisation, Crisil Ratings said in a report. Profitability had fallen 150 bps last fiscal, primarily because of an increase in wages, the report said, adding that in FY23, wages that constitute 20 per cent of total input cost were hiked by 15 per cent. However, low leverage and negligible capital expenditure (capex) will keep credit profiles stable, the report stated. The tea industry will report 8 per cent year-on-year degrowth in revenue this fiscal, led by a decline in export volume, the agency said. "Domestic demand, which accounts for 82 per cent of sales volume, should remain steady at 1,100 million kg this fiscal. However, exports, which make up 18

Tea auction system not helping in optimum price discovery in N India: CTTA

Tea producers have opined that the new Bharat auction system introduced in North India from April this year is not helping in the discovery of optimum prices of the brew. According to Tea Board data, average price realisation in North India from April to July in 2023-24 was lower at Rs 205.10 per kilogramme as compared to Rs 220.74 per kilogramme in the same period of 2022-23, when auctions were conducted using the English system. The Bharat auction system was introduced in Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri from April this year replacing old the English auction system. Anish Bhansali, immediate past chairman of Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA), which provides the auction platform in Kolkata, said "the English auction system was better for the users. He said the auction prices have been lower in the current year because of the poor demand conditions. "At the end of the day, the issue boils down to the question of demand and supply. Having said that, I feel the English auction ..

Need for real-time data on production, prices of tea: IIPM Director

The government should set up an institutional mechanism to bring out real-time data on production, consumption, trade, and prices for the tea sector, Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) Director Rakesh Mohan Joshi said on Friday. He also said there is an urgent need to bring out enabling policies with targeted interventions to address the rapidly emerging novel issues such as climate change, curtailing production costs and achieving efficiency across the value chain in the sector. To cope with emerging challenges in the tea industry, the government should focus upon adopting an integrated approach to evolve an institutional mechanism with active participation of producing states along with other stakeholders in tea production. "The tea industry, once a gold mine for the British planters and a major source of foreign exchange earnings that played a critical role in India's trade and economy in the last century, struggles today even for survival," Joshi said. India's sha