Tea Exports Surge by 52% from Mechi Customs in First Two Months of Fiscal Year

Tea exports from Nepal’s Mechi Customs Office have surged by 52% in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2081/82, marking a significant increase in the country’s tea trade with India. According to the customs office, a total of 4,412 metric tons of tea was exported in Saun and Bhadau (mid-July to mid-September), compared to 2,902 metric tons during the same period last year. The exported tea was valued at Rs. 1.13 billion.

The Nepal Tea Producers’ Association attributes this sharp rise in exports to a decline in tea production in South India, which has driven up demand for Nepali tea. Aditya Parajuli, President of the Association, expressed optimism that this trend will continue throughout the year as demand from India remains strong.

In the previous fiscal year 2080/81, Nepal exported a total of 13,433 metric tons of tea, valued at Rs. 3.16 billion, to India. This represented a 7.68% decline compared to the prior fiscal year, but the current surge suggests a strong recovery in exports.

The increased demand from India, combined with favorable market conditions, has positioned Nepal as an important player in the regional tea trade, with expectations that this year’s exports will continue to grow.