印度茶价暴跌42% 进口激增57%急征关税

Core Viewpoint - The Indian Tea Association (TAI) is urging the government to implement stricter trade policies to control the rising imports of low-cost tea, which have significantly impacted local producers and market prices [1][3]. Group 1: Import Trends and Impact - Tea imports in India surged by 57% year-on-year in the first half of 2023, reaching 19.61 million kilograms, with imports from Kenya increasing by 45% to 6.6 million kilograms [1]. - Domestic tea production rose by 13.6% to 6.41 billion kilograms, but the imbalance between supply and demand has led to a drop in auction prices by 42 rupees per kilogram [1]. - Imported tea now accounts for 5.8% of the domestic consumption market, a figure that continues to rise, posing a threat to local tea producers [3]. Group 2: Policy Recommendations - TAI has proposed three key policy changes: the implementation of a 100% import duty, the establishment of a minimum import price system, and the abolition of the pre-authorization scheme [3]. - The association suggests using Sri Lanka's standard operating procedures as a model for controlling the quality of imported tea through stringent entry reviews [3]. Group 3: Economic Challenges for Local Producers - The current year has seen a 53% drop in the purchase price of fresh tea leaves compared to the previous year, falling below the cost of production [3]. - The influx of duty-free tea from Nepal is adversely affecting the high-end Darjeeling market, while low-cost Kenyan tea threatens traditional Assam regions, creating a dual pressure on local growers [3]. - TAI has called for the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring system to track the flow of imported tea and prevent smuggling into the domestic market [4].