Tea exports have jumped by over 41 per cent to 17 million kg in January this year,the Tea Board said. The country had exported 12 million kg of tea in the same month last year,the data released by the Tea Board showed. In value terms,exports stood at Rs 212 crore in January against Rs 146.6 crore in the same month last year. The average price of Indian tea in export markets increased to Rs 124.69 a kg in the month from Rs 121.38 a kg in January 2009. Tea production rose by 25.5 per cent to 27 million kg in January compared to 21.5 million kg output in January 2009. Tea exports rose to 170 million kg in April-January,2010 period as compared to 164 million kg in the corresponding period a year-ago. While both south India and north India improved their contribution towards exports during the month,production was higher at 18.3 million kg in southern parts compared to 11.4 million kg in the same month last year. In northern parts tea production fell 8.7 million kg in the month from 10.1 million kg in January 2009.
