Unfavourable weather in Kerala hurts India’s tea output in Jan

India’s tea production during January 2025 declined marginally by 2.13 per cent to 17.03 million kgs mainly on lower output in Kerala, which was impacted by unfavourable weather. Tea output in the same period last year stood at 17.40 million kgs. As per the provisional data released by Tea Board, the production declined 7.94 per cent in Kerala to 4.87 million kgs, down from 5.29 million kgs in January 2024. In Tamil Nadu, the output increased 3.34 per cent to 11.75 million kgs in Jan, 2025, while it was flat in Karnataka at 0.37 million kgs. During the winter months, in the major producing regions of North India, tea production comes to a halt due to the ban on plucking.

“While Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu received some useful showers in January, the weather remained dry in Kerala with no rains unlike the previous year where there were good rains in the month of January. Minimum temperatures dropped below the normal levels in all plantation districts of Kerala in January. These unfavourable weather conditions resulted in the lower crop in Kerala,” said Mathew Abraham, President, United Planters Association of South India (UPASI). Further, Abraham said the dry and cold weather conditions persisted throughout February. Whilst the South India total tea production for the month of February is awaited from Tea Board of India, UPASI member estates have already reported a lower yield of around 15 per cent compared to last year. “With rainfall remaining elusive for almost three months now in Kerala and minimum temperatures of two degrees being recorded in the High Ranges at present with low humidity levels across South India, prospects for crop production for March also seems challenging unless adequate showers are received immediately,” Abraham added. Cherian M George, Chairman, Tea Committee, UPASI said that South Indian production, which was subdued in 2024 continues its trend in January 2025. The first quarter of 2025 would be one of the lowest in the recent past. South Indian production during 2024 was lower by 9.88 million kgs (4.2 per cent) compared to the previous year.

February crop is also anticipated to be lower by around 14 per cent and March 2025 as well. The production is expected to be lower given the high temperature reported in most of the tea-growing regions. Although the prices went up in Oct -Dec quarter, the trend in January, February and March is showing a decline, Cherian added.