The Hindu : Tea industry again looking at Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

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Tea industry again looking at Iraq

KOLKATA APRIL 18. Indian tea industry is once again looking at Iraq market and hopes to make up for the lost ground. "We are quite optimistic that tea exports to Iraq would resume.

There are signs of stability not only in Iraq but also in the entire Middle East," former chairman of Indian Tea Association (ITA), R. S. Jhawar, told PTI.

Mr. Jhawar said since the situation was becoming normal in Iraq, they expected the U.S.-led coalition to resume buying essentials not only under oil-for-food scheme but also in general. He felt that export of tea to Iraq this year would not be less than that of last fiscal.

"In the first quarter of last fiscal, there was virtually nil export of tea to Iraq, but had picked up substantially during the last three quarters. So we have not lost anything in the true sense. There is sufficient scope to improve exports and good potential to reach last year's export to Iraq," Mr. Jhawar said.

Meanwhile, India's tea exports had dipped by 20.92 per cent to 9.94 million kg during the first month of the current year from 12.57 million kg in the corresponding month of the previous year.

Value-wise exports dipped by 21.66 per cent to Rs. 87.08 crores from Rs. 111.16 crores in January 2002.

Industry sources said tension in West Asia was one of the reasons for the decline in exports in January as shipments were delayed. — PTI

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