Trouble brews for tea exports

WITH THE DEEPENING crisis in West Asia disrupting key trade routes, nearly 3 million kg of the country’s tea shipments have been left stranded, raising fresh concerns over export earnings and supply chain stability.

- NANDINI OZA

From January to December 2025, India exported 280.4 million kg tea valued at ₹8,488.43 crore of the total production of approximately 1,390 million kg. India exports tea to more than 25 countries. Major markets include Iran, Russia, the UAE, the UK, the US and Germany. Supplies are also sent to some West Asian nations.

“Even if the tea is ready to be shipped, people like us have paid demurrage and got our containers back from the ports,’ Paras Desai, chairman of the Federation of All India Tea Traders’ Association (FAITTA), told FE during an interaction.