India Aims to Export 280 mln Kilos tea by 1990

India plans to export about 280 mln kilos of tea a year by 1990, up from estimates of 202 mln in 1986 and 220 mln in 1985, Minister of State for Commerce Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told Parliament.

Bad weather reduced domestic tea output in 1986 causing a shortfall in exports. To boost exports the government recently introduced higher cash compensatory support on packet tea, excise tax rebate of 50 paise per kilo of bulk tea, full rebate of excise duty on packet tea exports and exemption of customs duty on filter paper used in making tea bags, he said.