TEHRAN, Iran, Aug.18
Trend:
Iran continues to increase production to supply domestic market and reduce import, said the head of Iran's Tea Organization (ITO).
Habib Jahansaz has discussed the latest statistics of tea production in the country in an interview with Trend.
"Total of 85,000 tons of tea has been harvested from the start of current Iranian year [March 20, 2020] until now, and $83 million was assigned for purchase guarantee of tea leaves," he said. "About 65 percent of tea is of first grade and 35 percent is of second grade; so far $75 million were paid that has compensated 90 percent of government debt to tea producers."
"Total of 19,000 tons dried tea have been produced since the start of current Iranian year," Jahansaz added.
"Third harvest season has started and continues until early October. According to the customs' statistics, Iran has imported 18,000 tons of tea during first three months of current Iranian year; the average price of imported tea per kilo is $4.7, and the major part was delivered from India and Sri Lanka," he said.
"The price of packaged domestic tea is about $14 in the market," he added. "It has been predicted that tea production will reach 30,000 tons by the end of current Iranian year, which is a 15-percent increase compared to last Iranian year [started March 21, 2019]; however, rainfall in June and July had negative effect on tea production and now the temperature is dropping. Nevertheless, hopefully, this year production will more than last year."
"Export of Iranian tea is not priority, since we should reduce import volume and supply domestic market. Iran has exported 500 tons of tea in the first four months of current Iranian year," Jahansaz said.