Quarter of a century later Assam tea exports surge by 40 million kg

Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state’s tea industry had staged a remarkable turnaround during its production season, increasing its exports by 40 million kg.

“Assam recorded an increase in tea exports by 40 million kg this calendar year. After 25 years, we have witnessed a turnaround and strong performance by our gardens,” Sarma said.


According to the provisional figures released by the Tea Board, India exported 280.40 million kg of tea in 2025, valued at Rs 8,488.43 crore, marking an impressive increase of 18.4%, as compared to 2024, with Assam recording a tremendous hike of 40 million kg in exports and 50 million kg in overall production, with the rest 10 million kg having been consumed domestically.

Sarma said the subsidy for orthodox tea production will be raised to Rs 15 per kg from the current Rs 10, noting that orthodox tea accounted for nearly half of Assam’s exports. The CM further said trade agreements with the EU and US will benefit the industry, with India having secured zero-duty access for tea exports to the US under the interim trade deal framework.

“Therefore there will be zero-duty levies for Indian tea exports to the US market. We are grateful to the PM and Union commerce and industry minister for this agreement,” North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) adviser Bidyananda Barkakoty said.

Barkakoty said that while tea had earlier enjoyed zero duty, the US had imposed a 25% tariff, followed by another 25%, making it 50%. The new deal has restored the zero-duty status, much to the relief of the tea industry.

Barkakoty further said the US was emerging as a key market, importing 17.14 million kg of Indian tea in 2024 (7% of total exports). With zero-duty reinstated, exports are expected to rise further in 2026.

Sarma said the benefits of the industry’s turnaround must reach workers, urging garden managements to raise wages. “If incentives are given, workers will perform better. The industry said they will consider it. We will talk with the tea workers’ organisations also,” the CM said.

The last wage hike came into effect on Oct 2023, when tea garden workers in the Brahmaputra Valley began receiving Rs 250 per day, while those in the Barak valley were paid Rs 228. With assembly elections just months away and the tea tribes forming a sizeable voter base, the govt has been wooing the community through welfare measures, including a one-time grant of Rs 5,000 each to over six lakh workers.

The CM further said PM Modi was likely to visit the state on Mar 6 or 7, with the state govt hoping to launch the distribution of land pattas to tea garden families during the visit. “You all know his connection with tea. It is my wish that the PM hands over the first 5,000 to 6,000 pattas to the tea workers himself. After 200 years, the workers will finally be getting ownership over their living quarters,” he said.

He added that if the PM’s schedule cannot be worked out, Union home minister Amit Shah will be invited to attend the event, which will be held before Mar 10.