Tea exports fell by 4.6 per cent: ITA

Kolkata, Dec 31: Tea exports fell by 4.6 per cent in October lastto 19.21 million kg compared to 20.14 million kg in October 2005,Indian Tea Association said here today.

Exports between January and October also fell 0.28 per cent to150.81 million kg from 151.24 million kg in the same period last year,ITA said.

'Delays in shipments were the reason for the slight fall inexports, which we have overcome in the last two months,' JointSecretary of the Indian Tea Association Sujit Patra said. He said thedelays had occurred because of port congestion.

India's tea production in October dipped to 116.1 million kg from 117.1 million kg in the same month last year, officials said.

''Adverse weather conditions, especially in northern India,contributed to the slight fall in production in October but overall weare doing fine,' Mr Patra said.

January-October production rose nearly 3 per cent to 820.4 million kg from 797.5 million kg in the year ago period.

India had targeted to produce 945 million kg of tea this calendaryear compared to 928 million kg in 2005 and export 195 million kgagainst 192 million last year, officials said.

UNI