India’s tea output falls 6% in September 2025 as weather pressures mount, coffee exports surge 40% 

INDIA – India’s tea production experienced a decline in September 2025, falling 6% year-on-year as adverse climate conditions impacted key growing regions, particularly in Tamil Nadu and parts of North and South India.  

According to data released by the Tea Board, monthly tea output dropped to 159.92 million kilograms, from 169.93 million kilograms recorded in September 2024. 

The North India region, which accounts for the majority of the country’s tea production, registered a 5.61% decline in output to 138.65 million kilograms, compared to 146.96 million kilograms in the corresponding month last year.  

Performance varied across states, with Assam reporting marginal improvement while West Bengal posted significant declines across all key tea-producing belts. 

Tea production in Assam increased slightly to 94.76 million kilograms from 94.03 million kilograms a year earlier. The Assam Valley sub-region contributed 90.31 million kilograms, up from 88.87 million kilograms, while Cachar output dipped to 4.45 million kilograms from 5.16 million kilograms. 

In contrast, West Bengal experienced a sharp 17% drop in monthly production, reaching 40.03 million kilograms from 48.35 million kilograms in September 2024. The decline was broad-based, affecting Dooars, Terai, and Darjeeling regions.  

Dooars output fell 17% to 22.59 million kilograms, Terai declined 17.47% to 16.86 million kilograms, and Darjeeling saw a 25% decrease, producing 0.58 million kilograms. 

Southern tea-growing states also reported weather-related setbacks. Tamil Nadu’s production decreased 4.76% to 15.79 million kilograms, compared to 16.58 million kilograms last year. Kerala registered a 14.35% reduction at 5.13 million kilograms, while Karnataka output slipped 12.5% to 0.35 million kilograms. 

Category-wise, CTC teas dominated output, with 123.09 million kilograms produced in North India and 17.21 million kilograms in South India.  

Orthodox tea volumes stood at 13.97 million kilograms in the North and 3.47 million kilograms in the South, while green tea production reached 1.59 million kilograms in North India and 0.59 million kilograms in the South. 

In contrast to tea sector challenges, India’s coffee industry continued to post strong export performance. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported that coffee exports reached US$1.80 billion in FY 2024-25, a 40.2% increase over the previous year’s US$1.28 billion.  

India has now sustained its billion-dollar coffee export trajectory for four consecutive financial years, propelled by rising international demand for its distinctive flavour profiles. 

India currently ranks as the world’s seventh-largest coffee producer, nearly doubling export value since FY 2020-21, when shipments totalled US$719.42 million. 

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