Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Reports Growth Amid U.S. Tariff Dip

Quick Summary

• Location & Context: Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) records growth in tea sales from April-August 2025 amidst concerns over U.S. tariffs on tea.
• Sales Figures:

– Total tea sold: 76.94 million kg (CTC and dust teas: 72.7 million kg; Orthodox teas: 4.24 million kg).
– Average price per kg: ₹223.30 for CTC/dust teas and ₹279.08 for orthodox teas.

• Year-on-Year Growth:

– CTC/dust volumes increased by 16.39% compared to the previous year; Orthodox tea volumes nearly doubled with a rise of 94.5%.

• Price Trends:

– CTC/dust prices corrected by an average reduction of ₹28 per kg in comparison to last year’s highs but remained above the levels prior to that.
– Orthodox tea prices showed steady recognition, rising modestly by around ₹11 per kg this year.

• Production Insights:

– Assam’s total production declined in early months of the last crop season, causing price hikes due to lower supply.
– GTAC’s manufacturers reveal higher prices corresponded with larger offerings, indicating quality disparities between smaller and larger batches.
– Tea crop in india is expected to increase by approximately 20%-25% this calendar year.

• Exports & Tariff Concerns:

– the U.S., a minor market accounting for only ~1% of India’s annual production, imported about 15.54 million kg during April-August despite elevated tariffs.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The data from Guwahati Tea Auction Centre underscores several encouraging trends while revealing structural challenges for India’s tea industry at large-especially as it aims at global expansion amidst tariff risks.

the consistent increase in sales volume signals robust demand both domestically and internationally, suggesting India’s capacity as a key player in global markets like Assam is strengthening over time through yield optimization practices or supply efficiencies amid fluctuating growing seasons.

Though CTC price corrections stem after sharp surges balancing domestic-market sign -orthodox category growth sector-building export boost dependable others naturally strategic sales diversification matter