India’s Oct tea output, exports down

 (Reuters) - India’s tea output fell by 9.77 percent in October 2010 due to bad weather and after a pest attack trimmed crop size in the biggest producing region of the country, cutting exports, the Tea Board said in a statement.

Tea output in October fell to 120 million kg from 133 million kg a year ago, it said on Monday.

Tea exports in October stood at 19.6 million kg, down 6.6 percent on year.

A pest attack of helopeltis adversely affected tea gardens in the northeastern state of Assam, India’s top producer.