Production of Darjeeling tea, the world-famous aromatic tea, fell below 6 million kgs in 2024, and it could be the lowest output almost ever in recent history. The production was hit hard by adverse weather conditions and falling demand.

Darjeeling tea production stood at 6.01 million kgs in 2024 compared to 6.93 million kgs in 2023, according to Tea Board of India data.

“Production of Darjeeling tea fell below 6 million kgs in 2024 because of adverse weather conditions, climate change and lack of tea pluckers and absenteeism in the gardens. This would be the lowest production almost ever in recent history,” Indian Tea Exporters Association (ITEA) chairman Anshuman Kanoria told businessline.

Premium tea depends on rain and favourable weather for both the quantity and quality of the brew, which is special and fetches the highest price in the market.

Darjeeling’s tea industry has been witnessing a gradual fall in production over the last more than a decade. In 2011, production of the aromatic tea was 9.14 million kg, while it was 8.13 million kg in 2016.

“Up to November last year, the production was 5.59 million kgs. And, there was no production in December. Every year, the production has been dropping. Apart from climatic change, factors such as less domestic demand is also leading to the fall in production,” Calcutta Tea Traders Association Secretary Kalyan Sundaram said.

According to industry insiders, competition from Nepal tea has lowered demand for Darjeeling tea in the domestic market. Traders are selling the cheap variety of tea grown in Nepal, which is up to 50 per cent less costly compared to the Darjeeling variety.

“Prices were suppressed for the Darjeeling tea as both domestic and international demands were very poor. Export for 2024 would remain the same compared to 2023,” Kanoria added.

In the overseas markets, shipments of Darjeeling tea generally stand at around 3-3.25 million kgs annually. Europe and Japan are the two large overseas markets for this premium tea, the first product to get a geographical identification (GI) tag in India.

India’s total tea export, however, could grow to around 245-260 million kgs in 2024 compared with 231.69 million kgs in 2023. Mainly due to an increase in shipments to Iran and Iraq, the country’s tea industry witnessed higher exports despite geopolitical tensions.