Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said the ministry is analysing trade data and has noted a "substantial increase" in Indian tea sales to Oman, a market the government is now actively promoting.
Kumar added that the focus remains on expanding exports to a broader set of destinations and creating fresh market opportunities for Indian tea exporters, especially as traditional routes face uncertainty.
Data supplied by the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) show that India’s tea exports fell from 153.24 million kg between January and July last year to 128.56 million kg – a 16.11% decline – in the January‑June period of this year.
At the same time, imports of tea surged, reaching 15.1 million kg between January and June 2026, up from 10 million kg in the comparable period a year earlier.
Ajoy Thipaiah, the outgoing president of UPASI, warned at the association’s annual meeting in Coonoor that the renewed inflow of imported tea threatens domestic producers and called for “appropriate remedial measures” to protect Indian tea growers.
The shift in trade dynamics follows the impact of the war in Iran, which has hampered Indian tea shipments to that market, prompting officials to seek alternative buyers to sustain the sector’s earnings.