India’s Aug tea output rises 6%

MUMBAI (Reuters): India's tea production in August rose 5.9% from a year ago to 167.98 million kg as plucking activity picked up in the top producing north-eastern state of Assam, the state-run Tea Board said.

Assam produced 98.79 million kg in August, up 10.9% from a year ago, the Board said in a statement. The country's exports in January to August rose 4% from a year ago to 143.28 million kg, it added. India, the world's second-biggest tea producer, exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) grade mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK, and the orthodox variety to Iraq, Iran and Russia.