Exports of premium Indian orthodox tea to Iran are expected to double this year as both countries have sorted out the pesticide issue that hurt shipments, said industry executives. Tea planters are aiming to export 30 million kg to Iran in 2015.
The countries have set up a joint working committee comprising representatives from both countries to facilitate tea trade, said Azam Monem, vice-chairman of Indian Tea Association. "The committee is responsible to remove technical obstacles and facilitate trade. We have been able to communicate to the Iranian government and all stakeholders in tea trade there that Indian tea is not at all harmful," he toldET.
Representatives of Indian tea trade and government officials recently visited Iran to improve trade ties between the two nations and clear the air following allegations that shipments from India contained traces of pesticides.
Representatives from Iranian tea trade are scheduled to visit India next month. The countries have signed a MoU whereby the Islamic nation has agreed to import 30 million kg of tea from India this year. India's efforts come at a time when Sri Lanka and Kenya are trying hard to enter the Iranian market.
According to Tea Board figures, Iran imported 12.20 million kg between April and December 2014 at Rs 267.30 per kg. For the whole year, the industry is expecting to achieve 16 million kg of tea exports. India's total tea exports slipped to 141.83 million kg in the first nine months of the current fiscal year from 166.36 million kg in the corresponding period of the previous year. Iran is a major export market for Indian tea. The country is ready to pay higher prices for quality teas. Orthodox tea, produced through hand-processing or using machines that mimic hand-rolling, is used in most specialty tea (the other variety, CTC, is machine-processed).
In 2014, India was not able to produce good volumes of orthodox teas as a long, dry spell affected tea leaves. "This in turn has left an impact on our exports to Iran," said Monem. Iran's annual consumption is around 120 million kg.
Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
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