India's tea production rises as exports dip
India has seen its tea output rise by 8 percent to 133 million kilograms in July, compared to the same period last year. According to numbers from India's Tea Board, production for the first six months of 2011 has also grown by 6% to 491 million kg. This is mainly attributed to healthy growth figures from the region of Assam, which accounts for more than 50% of total Indian output. However, the country has seen a drop in exports with a decline of 8% to just above 15 million kg in July 2011. Foreign trade numbers are even worse for the first six months of the year, as India's exports fell by 16% to 89 million kg. India is the world's second largest producer and the biggest consumer of tea.