Increased consumption of tea in emerging economies of India and China has propelled its global demand, which has risen by 5.6 per cent to 4 million tonnes, the Food and Agriculture Organisation has said.

“Total world tea consumption increased by 5.6 per cent in 2010 — the latest year for which figures were available — to 4 million tonnes and was underpinned by the rapid growth in per capita income levels, particularly in China, India and other emerging economies,” FAO noted.

In India, consumption expanded by 2.4 per cent in 2009 and 1 per cent in 2010 to reach 8,28,890 tonnes, whereas, in China, consumption increased by 8.2 per cent in 2009 and 1.4 per cent in 2010 to reach 1.06 million tonnes, the largest in the world, it added.

According to the global body on the farm sector, high tea prices, which averaged $2.85 per kg in 2011, reflects the fact that demand for black tea has exceeded supply since 2009.

World tea production rose 4.2 per cent to 4.1 mt in 2010. Output of black tea, which accounts for most of world production, increased by 5.5 per cent in response to record prices, while that of green tea rose 1.9 per cent, the FAO said.

China remained the world’s largest tea producing country with an output of 1.4 mt and a 33 per cent of the world’s total share.

On the future outlook, FAO noted that in the next 10 years, black tea production will grow at almost 1.9 per cent annually to reach 3.28 mt by 2021, whereas, consumption is set to grow at 1.8 per cent per annum to touch 3.36 mt.

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