Tea Producers

Tea firms served much-needed profit boost as climate change bites

Some in the industry warn companies will end financial year with marginal profit

LS polls: Small tea growers fight for land rights in Assam's Lakhimpur

It has been a single-point agenda for small tea growers in Assam's Lakhimpur district, along the border with Arunachal Pradesh, before every government for several years allotment of garden land in their names. The repeated pleas have so far not yielded any positive result, though they remain hopeful whenever an election approaches that their demand will finally be met by the new regime. "Most of the areas under tea cultivation here fall under the tribal belt. And hence, we are not getting allotment. We have been repeatedly urging the government to de-notify the area or make provisions for allotment for us as the tribal population in this part is not even 10 per cent," Jatin Chandra Bora, advisor, Lakhimpur District Small Tea Growers Association, said. Mentioning specifically about Bholabari, Dhalpur, Rajgarh, Rangoti and Simojluguri panchayats in western part of Lakhimpur, he said, "As per information from the office of the deputy director of economics and statistics, these ...

PM skipped upper Assam out of fear of facing tea garden workers: Congress

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Nalbari on Wednesday, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that the PM skipped upper Assam where polls are due in the first phase as he was "afraid" of facing tea garden workers for "not fulfilling" promises. Stating that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Nyay Yatra' was not permitted in Guwahati in view of commuters' problems, Khera criticised Modi for holding a roadshow through the busy Guwahati-Shillong Road on Tuesday evening, claiming that it created problems for all, from patients to office-goers since the morning. Addressing a press conference here, Khera said, "We don't know why the prime minister is not coming to upper Assam. He is going to Nalbari where elections are in the third phase. Perhaps he is afraid of facing tea garden workers here as their daily wages are still at Rs 250 and four-laning of national highway is yet to be completed." Elections to five Lok Sabha constituencies - Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kazirang

Dry spell, sporadic rainfall take a toll on tea production in March

Problem acute for prized Darjeeling tea, which is crucial for tea companies' revenue

Indian coffee exports could surge 10%, thanks to global price rally

Coffee exports in 2024 could jump to 298,000 metric tons from last year's 271,420 tons, said a Bengaluru-based dealer with a global trade house

Rising input costs, lower price realisation in 2023 trouble tea industry

The year witnessed the tea industry facing an uncertain future, plagued by rising input costs and lower price realisation at auctions, making operations unviable. The apex body of the planters, the Indian Tea Association (ITA), has estimated that while tea prices increased at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent over the past decade, input costs of coal and gas have simultaneously risen at a rate of 9-15 per cent. Secretary general of ITA Arijit Raha said price realisation trends declined alarmingly in 2023 compared to 2022. "While inputs costs have risen, tea prices have not increased in a proportionate manner. This shows that the industry is passing through a crisis," Raha said. ITA said the emergence of small tea growers (STGs) resulted in an exponential rise in production. With internal consumption almost stagnant and the exports scenario depressed, surplus tea has remained in the system. According to Tea Board data, exports of the beverage during January to ..

Banks to revalue McLeod Russel's gardens amidst falling tea price

Promoters of country's largest bulk tea producer had made OTS offer of Rs 1,030 cr to lenders last year against entire outstanding loan and interest. However, tea market has deteriorated since then

McLeod Russel to sell Vietnam unit Phu Ben Tea Company for $2.15 mn

Subject to the completion of the sale, PBTCL would cease to be a subsidiary of BTHL and a step-down subsidiary of McLeod Russel

FSSAI analysing tea samples to determine safety standards, says CEO

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is analysing tea samples from various parts of the country to determine whether these were adhering to the safety standards, an official said on Saturday. The official said that FSSAI, a statutory body for regulating food safety, had conducted surveys and collected samples across the tea industry in the country which are presently being analysed regarding the levels of pesticide residues present in them. "Regarding the tea industry, we have conducted surveys and currently analysing the samples which were collected. We will then present our findings to the industry", CEO of FSSAI, G Kamala Vardhana Rao, said. Rao said FSSAI will train the growers, manufacturers, traders and all those involved in the supply chain from tea production to sales. He said FSSAI has also sought the cooperation and support of Tea Board in this endeavour. Rao who also met officials of the Tea Board earlier in the day said the food safety regulator ha

Assam govt hikes minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18: CM Sarma

The Assam government on Monday decided to hike the daily minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. In a cabinet meeting, chaired by Sarma, the decision was taken to hike the wages in both Brahmaputra and Barak valleys with effect from October 1. "The cabinet decided to increase the minimum daily wages of tea garden workers. In Brahmaputra valley, the daily wage has been increased to Rs 250 from Rs 232 with effect from October 1. In Barak valley, the workers will get Rs 228 instead of Rs 210 from now. So, Rs 18 will be hiked in both places," he said. Briefing the press after the meeting, Sarma said the government has given instructions to the garden managements to give a 20 per cent bonus for the ensuing Durga Puja. "There will be a 3 per cent reservation in government jobs for tea garden workers and adivasi people with immediate effect. This will be for only non-creamy layer," he added. The chief minister also said that a decision was ta

Tea production decreases by around 4% to 177.95 mkgs in August, shows data

Tea production across the country declined by around four per cent to 177.95 million kilograms in August this year as compared to the output in the year-ago month. The production volume in August last year was 185.48 million kgs (mkgs). According to Tea Board data, production in north India, primarily comprising the states of Assam and West Bengal, fell to 158.04 mkgs in the month under review from 170.97 mkgs produced in August, 2022. In Assam, production volumes decreased to 99.78 mkgs in August this year as against 109.81 mkgs in the year-ago month. Production in West Bengal also fell to 53.65 mkgs in August 2023, as against 56.19 mkgs in the corresponding month last year. Tea industry sources said that production in north India declined due to adverse weather conditions and pest attacks. However, production volumes increased in South India, which stood at 19.91 mkgs in August this year as compared to 14.51 mkgs in the same month of 2022.

India's tea producers urged to improve quality, move up the value chain

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Association, Bhatia said that India's share in world exports has declined

Sluggish demand in international markets impacts orthodox tea exports

Higher output adds to industry's woes; Major buyer Iran is not operating at the level it normally does

ICD provisioning drags McLeod Russel to loss of Rs 1,078.27 crore

Revenue from operations in Q4FY23stood at Rs 226.04 crore as against Rs 254.24 crore a year back

McLeod Russel in exclusive talks with Carbon Resources for OTS to lenders

The agreement expresses the parties' interests in continuing exclusive discussions in the matter and does not create any legally binding obligation on any party, it added

Carbon Resources says in 'open-ended discussion' for Khaitans' tea business

'Everything on the table' Abhishek Jalan of Carbon Resources about negotiations

Warren Tea to exit plantations, plans expansion of IT and hotel businesses

Signs deal with Dhunseri group for the last four estates it currently owns

McLeod Russel Sept qtr net up 6% to Rs 131 cr despite dip in revenues

Revenues from operations at Rs 425.06 crore were lower by 13.93% from the same period last year

Tea Board seeks Rs 1,000 crore support for industry for five years

'Tea price trajectory of the last decade reflects a prolonged phase of stagnation in price growth which consequently pushed a large segment of the industry into crisis'

Tea Board modifies order on blending imported with Indian varieties

The Tea Board, in its notification, has kept the sanctity of GI intact and allowed blending only for teas not claiming the GI mark