Calcutta, Aug. 10: Tea production in the country rose about 13 million kg in June, though exports fell 3.7 million kg in the same month.

According to the latest statistics of the Indian Tea Association, production stood at 118 million kg compared with 105 million kg in June 2008. India exported 36.1 million kg in June 2009 against 39.8 million kg a year ago.

During the January-June period, production fell 3.4 per cent to 333.9 million kg against 345.7 million kg in the same period last year.

Globally, Uganda reported the highest rise of 38.7 per cent in production during January-June 2009 at 21.1 million kg, and Sri Lanka registered the biggest decline of 23.8 per cent at 130.5 million kg.

Kenya’s production fell 11.5 per cent to 139.3 million kg during the period.

Exports fell 17.9 per cent to 74.6 million kg in the January-June period against 90.8 million kg during the same period last year.

In value terms, exports stood at Rs 983.86 crore in the first six months against Rs 932.73 crore during January-June 2008. India exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK and premium orthodox to Iraq, Iran and Russia.

A rise in internal consumption pushed up auction prices to Rs 182.7 per kg in January-June from Rs 95.31 per kg in the year-ago period.

India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Kenya account for 75 per cent of the total global output.

During January-May, exports fell 18.5 per cent to 60 million kg from 73.7 million kg reported in the same period last year. However, price realisation from exports rose 7 per cent during January-May.