TIL Desk/Business/Assam/ Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, and India’s withdrawal of the most favoured nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, tea exporters and producers are looking at alternative markets such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations and West Asian countries to sell their produce.
Exporters are of the view that while direct exports to Pakistan will be nearly nil this month, and in the coming few months, alternative markets can be explored for exporting tea, which was originally meant for Pakistan.
According to Vivek Goenka, chairman, Indian Tea Association (ITA), the type of tea that goes to Pakistan can be routed and sold in Egypt, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other east European nations.“Russia and CIS buy a wide variety of tea, ranging from top-quality orthodox to budget teas.
I think the tea exported to Pakistan can be routed and absorbed there,” he said. Usually, Pakistan buys average quality tea from India, comprising mostly of dust and fanning, priced around $1.45 a kilo. Besides, tea is also routed to Pakistan via Dubai.
