Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: As the world gears up to observe International Tea Day 2026 on May 21 under the theme “Sustaining Tea, Supporting Communities,” India’s tea industry has expressed a mix of optimism and concern. While celebrating record-breaking export figures, the sector has also raised alarms over climate-related disruptions, shrinking profitability and long-term structural challenges.
In a statement issued ahead of the occasion, the Indian Tea Association (ITA) announced that India exported a historic 280.40 million kg of tea in 2025, valued at Rs 8,488 crore. The achievement further strengthens India’s standing as the world’s second-largest tea producer and the leading producer of black tea.
The announcement coincides with preparations for the International Tea Symposium 2026 and initiatives linked to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Tea Day campaign, which this year highlights sustainability, climate resilience and the livelihoods of tea-growing communities.
According to the ITA, India produced 1,369.98 million kg of tea in 2025, accounting for nearly 19% of global output. The industry provides direct employment to about 1.2 million people, with women making up more than half the workforce. In addition, over 2.49 lakh registered small tea growers now contribute close to 57% of the country’s total tea production.
Despite these achievements, the association warned that the sector is under increasing pressure from climate change, escalating input costs and poor price realisation.
Tea-growing regions in Assam experienced an alarming 97% rainfall deficit between January and February 2026, while West Bengal recorded an 87% shortfall during the same period. The severe lack of rainfall has adversely affected bush health and hampered early crop development across key tea estates.
The impact is already visible in production figures. Tea output in North India declined by more than 12% during January-March 2026 compared to the same period last year, while overall national production dropped by over 11%.
Although auction prices showed slight improvement in early 2026, the ITA said the increase has not been enough to counter rising expenses related to fertilisers, energy and labour. In fact, auction prices in North India had fallen by nearly 10% in 2025 compared to 2024.
The association also voiced concern over rising tea imports, especially from Nepal and Kenya. India imported 36.54 million kg of tea in 2025, with Nepal alone exporting more tea to India than the total annual production of Darjeeling tea, which stands at roughly 5.3 million kg.
The globally acclaimed Darjeeling tea sector, meanwhile, is facing acute financial stress. Production has fallen sharply from 11.58 million kg in 2008 to nearly 5.3 million kg in 2025, largely due to ageing tea bushes, erratic climate conditions and labour shortages.
To address these challenges, the ITA has urged the government to introduce a Minimum Sustainable Pricing mechanism, expand support for climate resilience and irrigation infrastructure, strengthen export logistics and revive incentives for orthodox tea production.
The association emphasised that the future of India’s tea industry will depend on maintaining a balance between sustainability, export competitiveness and the welfare of the millions whose livelihoods are tied to the sector.
“Tea is not merely a beverage; it is a cultural bond, a source of livelihood and a timeless legacy,” the ITA said in its message for International Tea Day.