Tea exports this year are causing concern. In the first quarter, shipments have fallen sharply by 13.41 million kgs over the corresponding period of last year to dip to 32.99 million kgs. Particularly, March, was a bad month with a drop of 11.37 million kgs in shipments. If this trend continues, the overall exports in the current year can drop from last year's 193 million kgs level to 180 million kgs. And, if no action is taken to either check the decline in shipments or promote the exports, the Accenture study has warned, the exports would be down at 170 million kgs in 2006, whereas its suggestion is that the industry could target an export of around 280 million kgs that year. Last year, there was some recovery in the exports. The shipments totalled 193 million kgs against 183 million kgs in the previous year. Prices, however, dropped by an average of Rs 5.86 a kilo to dip to Rs 86.27. Still, because of the volume increase, the overall earnings rose by Rs 26 crore to touch Rs 1708 crore.
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