Guwahati, May 20: As the world prepares to observe International Tea Day 2026 on May 21 under the theme “Sustaining Tea, Supporting Communities,” India’s tea industry is marking the occasion with a mix of optimism and anxiety — celebrating record export earnings while warning of deepening climate stress, rising production costs and structural challenges confronting the sector.
In Meghalaya, Tea Board India will celebrate International Tea Day at NEHU campus. Similar programmes and events are being organised programmes across India and abroad to mark the occasion.
In a statement issued ahead of International Tea Day, the Indian Tea Association (ITA) said India exported a record 280.40 million kg of tea in 2025, valued at Rs 8,488 crore, reaffirming the country’s position as the world’s second-largest tea producer and the largest producer of black tea.
The statement comes amid global observances linked to the International Tea Symposium 2026 and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s International Tea Day initiative, which this year highlights sustainability, livelihoods and climate resilience in tea-growing communities.
According to the ITA, India produced 1,369.98 million kg of tea in 2025, accounting for nearly 19 per cent of global production. The industry directly employs around 1.2 million workers, more than half of them women, while over 2.49 lakh registered small tea growers now contribute nearly 57 per cent of the country’s total tea output.
At the same time, the association cautioned that the industry is under “existential pressure” due to climate change, escalating input costs and weak price realisation.
The industry body pointed to severe rainfall deficits in key tea-growing regions during the early months of 2026. Assam recorded a 97 per cent rainfall deficit between January and February, while West Bengal saw an 87 per cent shortfall during the same period, adversely affecting bush health and early crop growth.
The impact has already become visible in production trends. Tea output in North India during January–March 2026 fell by more than 12 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, while all-India production declined by over 11 per cent.
Although auction prices showed signs of recovery in early 2026, the ITA said the improvement remains inadequate to offset sharp increases in fertiliser, labour and energy costs. Auction prices in North India had declined by nearly 10 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024.
The association also flagged concerns over rising tea imports, particularly from Nepal and Kenya. Tea imports reached 36.54 million kg in 2025, with Nepal alone exporting more tea to India than the total annual production of Darjeeling, which currently stands at around 5.3 million kg.
The globally renowned Darjeeling tea sector, the ITA noted, is facing severe financial strain. Production has fallen sharply from 11.58 million kg in 2008 to around 5.3 million kg in 2025 due to ageing tea bushes, climate-related disruptions and labour shortages.
The ITA urged the government to introduce a Minimum Sustainable Pricing mechanism, expand irrigation and climate-resilience support for tea plantations, strengthen export infrastructure and restore incentives for orthodox tea production.
“The future of Indian tea depends on balancing sustainability, export competitiveness and the welfare of millions who depend on the industry,” the association said.
“Tea is not merely a beverage; it is a cultural bond, a source of livelihood, and a timeless legacy,” the ITA added in its International Tea Day message.
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