India’s tea production fell 3.54 per cent year-on-year to 131.60 million kg in May 2026 from 136.43 million kg a year earlier, as lower output in South India due to inadequate pre-monsoon showers weighed on overall production.As per Tea Board’s latest data, production in North India was up marginally at 111.72 m kgs against same period last year’s 109.86 million kgs, while in South India, the output was down by 25 per cent at 19.88 m kgs against 26.57 m kgs.In Assam, the largest producing state, tea output during May was down marginally at 64.70 m kgs (65.04 m kgs in May 2025). Production in Assam Valley was down a tad at 61.83 m kgs (62.38 m kgs), while Cachar saw a marginal increase in output at 2.87 m kg (2.66 m kg).In West Bengal, tea production during May was up by about 5 per cent at 42.69 m kgs (40.68 m kgs). The increase was witnessed both in Dooars and Terai region, whereas Darjeeling saw a marginal decline. In other producing regions of North India, tea output was up marginally at 4.33 m kgs (4.14 m kg), the Tea Board data showed.In Tamil Nadu, the largest producing region of South India, the production dropped to 13.63 m kgs during May this year, a 28 per cent decline over same period last year’s 19.04 m kgs.“May was bone dry. Lack of rains in May impacted the production,” said N Lakshmanan Chettiar, a veteran planter in Coonoor.Similarly, in Kerala, the production declined 16 per cent to 5.86 million kgs (7.03 m kgs) on deficit rains. The output in Karnataka also declined to 0.39 m kgs (0.50 m kg)Categorywise, the production of CTC teas stood at 116.12 m kgs, while the Orthodox teas output was 13.35 million kgs, while the green teas accounted for the rest.Published on July 6, 2026