India's tea exports dropped 8.9% in the first half of fiscal 2026-27 (H1 FY27), mainly because tensions in West Asia made it harder to ship to big markets.
Between April and September 2026, export volumes fell from 140.96 million kilograms to 128.43 million kilograms.
Even though prices per kilogram edged up a bit, total export earnings slid by 7.7% to ₹4,016 crore.
Tea shipment transit times almost doubled
Both North and South India saw their tea exports drop: North India's volumes fell by nearly 7%, while South India faced a steeper fall of over 13%.
South India did manage a small bump in price per kilogram.
Exporters are struggling with longer shipping times and higher freight costs; as Dipak Shah, Chairman, South India Tea Exporters Association, put it, the shipment transit time has almost doubled, making things even tougher for Indian tea producers.