MUMBAI, January 16: After the recent sharp spurt in onion prices, the common man in the metropolis now has to spend more for his morning tea following further rise in loose tea prices by Rs 10 per kg with effect from Friday.Mumbai Tea Dealers' Association has decided to raise the price of loose tea by another Rs 5 per kg from February one, making tea dearer by Rs 25 within two months. Earlier on December 1 last, the association had increased loose tea price by Rs 10 per kg.Harendra Shah, secretary of the association, attributed the price rise to the slump in global production, increased exports, constantly upward trend in auction centres and heavy tax burden.The retail price of lower medium quality tea prices till Thursday were quoted at Rs 125 to Rs 130, medium quality tea Rs 135 to Rs 140 and fine quality Rs 145 per kg, Shah said.In spite of a sharp upsurge in prices in auction centres in north as well as south India coupled with additional burden of expenses of over Rs 40 per kg from taxes, octroi, transportation, packing and forwarding, Shah clarified that Friday's increase of Rs 10 was lower than wholesale prices of tea, providing negligible or no profit margins for the retail traders or suppliers.
