Dry May Drags India's Tea Output Down 3.54% as South India Reels from Rain Deficit
India's tea production slipped to 131.60 million kg in May 2026, pulled down by a sharp 25% collapse in South India output as pre-monsoon showers failed Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The short answer
India produced 131.60 million kg of tea in May 2026, a 3.54% decline from 136.43 million kg in May 2025, according to Tea Board data. The drop was driven almost entirely by South India, where output plunged 25% to 19.88 million kg due to inadequate pre-monsoon rainfall. North India partially cushioned the fall, with marginal gains in West Bengal and modest recovery in other producing regions.
The headline
Overall Output Falls as South Offsets North's Modest Gains
India's tea production declined 3.54% year-on-year in May 2026, with the Tea Board recording output of 131.60 million kg against 136.43 million kg in May 2025. The contraction was not uniform — North India actually nudged higher, contributing 111.72 million kg compared with 109.86 million kg a year earlier. South India, however, moved sharply in the opposite direction, with output contracting by a quarter to 19.88 million kg from 26.57 million kg. The divergence underscores a structural vulnerability: when southern gardens lose a crop, the buffer provided by North India is rarely sufficient to prevent an overall decline.
The South India story
Tamil Nadu Bears the Brunt of a 'Bone Dry' May
The damage in the south was concentrated in Tamil Nadu, India's largest southern tea-producing region, where output fell 28% to 13.63 million kg from 19.04 million kg in May 2025. N Lakshmanan Chettiar, a veteran planter based in Coonoor, described conditions bluntly: "May was bone dry. Lack of rains in May impacted the production."
Kerala also suffered, with output declining 16% to 5.86 million kg from 7.03 million kg, while Karnataka saw production slip to 0.39 million kg from 0.50 million kg. Across all three southern states, the common thread was deficient pre-monsoon precipitation arriving at a critical window for flush growth.
May was bone dry. Lack of rains in May impacted the production.
The North India read
Assam Steady, West Bengal Lifts North's Overall Tally
In the north, Assam — India's single largest tea-producing state — posted a marginal dip to 64.70 million kg from 65.04 million kg in May 2025.
- Assam Valley edged down to 61.83 million kg (from 62.38 million kg)
- Cachar bucked the trend with a small rise to 2.87 million kg (from 2.66 million kg)
West Bengal was the north's standout performer, rising approximately 5% to 42.69 million kg from 40.68 million kg. Both the Dooars and Terai regions contributed to the increase, though Darjeeling registered a marginal decline. Other North Indian producing regions added 4.33 million kg, up from 4.14 million kg a year ago.
Category breakdown
CTC Dominates as Orthodox and Green Teas Play Supporting Roles
Disaggregating May's output by tea type reveals the continuing dominance of CTC (crush, tear, curl) teas, which accounted for 116.12 million kg of total production. Orthodox teas contributed 13.35 million kg, with green teas making up the remainder of the 131.60 million kg total. CTC's commanding share reflects its deep penetration in domestic mass-market consumption, while orthodox and green tea volumes remain relatively modest — though they carry disproportionate importance for export value and premium market positioning.
Why it matters
South India's weather-driven output slump is a reminder of how exposed the Indian tea sector remains to pre-monsoon variability — a risk that is likely to intensify with erratic climate patterns. Tamil Nadu alone, the largest southern producer, shed over 5 million kg in a single month. Traders and blenders sourcing from southern gardens should factor in continued supply tightness if monsoon distribution remains uneven, while policymakers may need to revisit irrigation and drought-resilience support for plantation districts.
Frequently asked
- By how much did India's tea production fall in May 2026?
- India's tea production declined 3.54% year-on-year to 131.60 million kg in May 2026, down from 136.43 million kg in May 2025, according to Tea Board data.
- Why did South India's tea output drop so sharply in May 2026?
- Deficient pre-monsoon rainfall was the primary cause. Tamil Nadu's production fell 28% to 13.63 million kg, while Kerala declined 16% to 5.86 million kg. A Coonoor-based planter described May as 'bone dry', directly linking the lack of rain to reduced output.
- Which region performed best in North India during May 2026?
- West Bengal was the strongest performer in North India, with production rising approximately 5% to 42.69 million kg from 40.68 million kg in May 2025, driven by gains in both the Dooars and Terai regions.
- What was the breakdown of tea production by category in May 2026?
- CTC teas accounted for 116.12 million kg of total output, Orthodox teas contributed 13.35 million kg, and green teas made up the remainder of the 131.60 million kg total.
Source
This report summarises and analyses coverage from The Hindu BusinessLine — Agri Business. The analysis and India context are IndianAgri's own.