Tea production in India grew by 2.23% in August to 154.26 million kg from 150.90 million kg in the same period a year ago, primarily due to higher contribution from the state of West Bengal, according to Tea Board of India.

During the month, tea production in West Bengal grew by 11.53% to 43.03 million kg from 38.58 million kg a year earlier.

In Assam, tea production grew by 0.9% to 93.27 million kg from 92.44 million kg a year ago.

Assam and West Bengal together contributed about 90% of the country’s tea production in August.

On the contrary, tea output in the southern part of India fell by 15.8% to 17.28 million kg during the period.

This fiscal year tea exports are expected to be maintained at last year’s level of 190 million kg amid a decline in shipments to Pakistan, the third-largest market for Indian tea.

Federation of Tea Traders Association of India vice-president Ramesh Chand Agarwal was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying, "Exports to Pakistan have come down this year, but there is enough demand for Indian tea and shipments are expected to be in the same range of 190 million, as it was in last fiscal."

India, which is the world’s second-largest tea producer, exports crush-tear-curl (CTC) grade tea to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK, Iraq, Iran and Russia.