Tea production slides on dry weather in India
Indian Tea Board has reported a 3% decline in country's output in July after continuing dry weather damaged crops. Total output in July was 127 million kilograms, compared with 131 million kilograms a year earlier, whereas production in the first seven months dropped 3.3% to 461 million kilograms, from 476.6 million kilograms a year ago. According to the Board's chairman, dry weather in the nations northeastern states, which grow more than half of the countrys tea crop, may lower output this year by at least 5%.