Tea Annual Review October 2009

CRISIL Ltd.
October 30, 2009
212 Pages - SKU: CRSL2505087
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Simultaneous lower production in India, Kenya and Sri Lanka pushing up prices India, Kenya and Sri Lanka are the largest producers and exporters of black tea. In the first half of 2009, production had declined by 3 per cent in India, 12 per cent in Kenya and 24 per cent in Sri Lanka compared to the first half of 2008. For the full year, production in these countries is expected to be lower in 2009 as compared to 2008, due to unfavourable weather, while consumption continues to grow at a steady pace. This has resulted in a tightening of the global demand-supply scenario and is pushing up tea prices.

Production to be lower in 2009, but increase over the next two years CRISIL Research expects tea production in India to be lower by 1 per cent in 2009 (compared to 2008) due to poor monsoon across the country. Although production had declined by 3 per cent in H12009, it improved in July and August. During January-August 2009, production in north India was lower by 0.3 per cent vis-à-vis same period last year, while production in South India was lower by 2 per cent. Going forward, production is likely to increase by 5 per cent in 2010 to 1,020 million kg, and further increase to 1,040 million kg in 2011 (assuming normal weather in both years). This rise will also be the result of plantations made in 1998-2000 and in 2005 (as production rises when bushes are 5-10 years old and peaks when bushes are 11-20 years old).