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Pak tea imports from India rise sharply in 7 months
Islamabad, Feb 09: Pakistan tea imports from India surged sharply to 5.6 million kg in the first seven months of the current financial year, up 136 per cent in terms of quantity and 93 per cent in terms of value as compared to the corresponding period last year.
Islamabad, Feb 09: Pakistan tea imports from India surged sharply to 5.6 million kg in the first seven months of the current financial year, up 136 per cent in terms of quantity and 93 per cent in terms of value as compared to the corresponding period last year.
The country imported 5.6 million kg of black tea worth USD 6.2 million from India during July-January this fiscal against the import of 2.4 million kg worth USD 3.2 million in the same period last year, according to data compiled by Pakistan Tea Association (PTA).
''Yes, Indian tea imports are rising due to a thaw in relations between the two countries,'' The Daily Times, quoting PTA chairman Khawaja Saeed Ahmed, said.
Mr Ahmed noted that the visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpaee to Pakistan has also created a healthy environment for boosting trade between the two nations. PTA's data showed black tea imports from India increased 117 per cent by January 2004 as compared to the same period last year. The country imported 9,28,020 kg of black tea worth USD 7,79,615 in January 2004 as compared to 4,27,488 kg worth USD 5,40,818 in the year-ago period.
''The other reason for the rise in imports from India is the price differential,'' Mr Muhammad Hanif Janoo, a tea importer, said. He said in the last seven months, black tea prices remained low in the neighbouring country as compared to Kenya, which has more than 60 per cent of the market share of tea in Pakistan. The prices remained over USD 1 per kg in Kenya as compared to just 70 cents in India, he added.
Indian traders, who had set themselves a target of exporting 10 million kg of tea to Pakistan for the FY 2003-04, have so far managed to export 56 per cent of the targeted quantity.
A delegation of Indian tea traders led by Bharat Bajoria, chairman Indian Tea Association, visited Pakistan in June last year and held a series of meetings with their Pakistani counterparts.
Bureau Report
''Yes, Indian tea imports are rising due to a thaw in relations between the two countries,'' The Daily Times, quoting PTA chairman Khawaja Saeed Ahmed, said.
Mr Ahmed noted that the visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpaee to Pakistan has also created a healthy environment for boosting trade between the two nations. PTA's data showed black tea imports from India increased 117 per cent by January 2004 as compared to the same period last year. The country imported 9,28,020 kg of black tea worth USD 7,79,615 in January 2004 as compared to 4,27,488 kg worth USD 5,40,818 in the year-ago period.
''The other reason for the rise in imports from India is the price differential,'' Mr Muhammad Hanif Janoo, a tea importer, said. He said in the last seven months, black tea prices remained low in the neighbouring country as compared to Kenya, which has more than 60 per cent of the market share of tea in Pakistan. The prices remained over USD 1 per kg in Kenya as compared to just 70 cents in India, he added.
Indian traders, who had set themselves a target of exporting 10 million kg of tea to Pakistan for the FY 2003-04, have so far managed to export 56 per cent of the targeted quantity.
A delegation of Indian tea traders led by Bharat Bajoria, chairman Indian Tea Association, visited Pakistan in June last year and held a series of meetings with their Pakistani counterparts.
Bureau Report