Lanka giving Indian tea a run for its money

Sri Lanka together with Kenya is giving India “a run for its money in tea export market “ said Bombay’s Business Standard newspaper.

“While China might have overtaken India as the largest tea producer couple of years ago, it is now Sri Lanka and Kenya that seem to be giving India a run for its money in tea export market,” the financial journal reported in a story datelined Ahamedabad by its own reporter.

The newspaper said with a steady rise in tea consumption within India the country is losing its share in tea export markets to Sri Lanka and Kenya.

“The largest producer of black tea in the world, India is losing ground to other tea exporting countries such as Sri Lanka and Kenya”,the newspaper reported quoting Western Tea Dealer’s Association (WITDA).

It further said, “Tea exports from India has come down from 200 million kgs in 1998 to 157 million kgs in 2007. The industry player also estimates that in 2008, exports will maintain a status quo.

“As far as tea exports are concerned we are losing out to Sri Lanka and Kenya,” Chairman of WITDA, Piyush Desai said.