Now Reading: Tea prices fall 15% at Guwahati auction centre amid Assam floods
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Tea prices fall 15% at Guwahati auction centre amid Assam floods
Tea prices fall 15% at Guwahati auction centre amid Assam floods
The average CTC tea price at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) has fallen from Rs 264.89 in Sale No. 26 to Rs 221.57 in Sale No. 34, a decline of about…
The average CTC tea price at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) has fallen from Rs 264.89 in Sale No. 26 to Rs 221.57 in Sale No. 34, a decline of about 15% in less than two months. The Tea Association of India (TAI) has warned that growers face mounting pressure as production has been disrupted by floods, excessive heat and pest infestations in Assam and other north Indian tea-growing regions.
TAI president Shailja Mehta said the auction price figures reflect a precarious state of affairs. The association estimates north India's tea output could be lower by around 8 million kg by end of August compared to last year, with a particularly severe impact in Assam. Exports during January-June 2026 were also lower by around 23 million kg, or nearly 18%, compared to the same period last year, according to Tea Board data.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Assam accounts for over half of India's tea output, so a sustained price drop here squeezes the entire domestic industry. Floods this year have submerged bushes that can take months to recover, and the TAI's warning comes at a time when growers are also absorbing higher wage costs and bonus payments. The next few auctions will show whether the price fall is seasonal or structural, and the Tea Board's production data for August and September, expected in October, will confirm the crop loss estimates.
Source: assamtribune.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
