India’s tea production continued its downward trend as the output during the month of March 2026 declined by 1.5 per cent to 66.86 million kgs over the corresponding period last year’s 67.85 m kgs.

The decline was mainly in North India, where production is yet to recover due to climatic and seasonal issues, whereas South India registered a near 13 per cent increase during the month. Adverse weather conditions have been influencing tea production in the country in recent months.

As per the Tea Board’s latest production data, the output in North India declined 5.8 per cent to 49.05 million kgs during March 2026 over corresponding last month’s 52.08 million kg. The production in North was mainly dragged down by a sharp decline in output in Assam, where total production fell 39 per cent 17.38 m kg (28.61 m kg). In Assam Valley region, tea production declined to 16.77 m kgs (27.75 m kg), while in Cachar the output declined marginally to 0.61 m kg (0.86 m kg).

However, the production in West Bengal increased 37 per cent during March 2026 to 29.96 m kgs (21.81 m kg during March 2025). Tea output in Bengal improved in all the three main producing regions of Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling. In Dooars, the output during March increased to 16.35 m kg (11.79 m kg), while in Terai it improved to 13.44 m kg (9.90 m kg) and in Darjeeling at 0.17 m kg (0.12 m kg). In the other producing regions of North India, the output improved marginally to 1.71 m kgs during March over corresponding last year’s 1.66 m kg.

In South India tea production was up 13 per cent at 17.81 m kgs during March over same period lat year’s 15.77 m kg. The increase in production was witnessed both in the key producing states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In TN, the March tea output improved to 12.85 m kgs (11.06 m kgs), while in Kerala the production was up at 4.59 m kg (4.32 m kg). However, Karnataka saw a marginal decline to 0.37 m kgs (0.39 m kg).

The overall production by small growers across the country saw a marginal increase at 40.79 m kgs (40.60 m kg), while the share of big growers reduced marginally at 20.07 m kgs (27.25 m kg). Categorywise production of CTC teas stood at 60.33 m kgs, while the orthrodox tea was at 5.59 m kg and green tea at 0.94 million kgs.

Published on May 4, 2026