India has set an ambitious target to push exports of black tea to China, the world’s largest producer of the beverage, by as much as 72 per cent in 2019.

The Indian Tea Association, a body of large tea producers, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Tea Marketing Association to promote Indian tea in China.

China procured 30 million kg of tea last year. Of this, Sri Lanka exported 10 million kg, while India and Kenya exported close to 8.33 million kg and 1.3 million kg, respectively, in 2017.

So far, in the first nine months of 2018, India has shipped more than last year. However, the share of China in this export data has not grown much.

Vivek Goenka, chairman of the ITA, claimed it would change in 2019.

“We are targeting 15 million kg of export,” Goenka said after signing an MoU with the CTMA, which is in Calcutta with a 14-member delegation.

Wang Qing, president of the CTMA and the leader of the delegation, said Sri Lanka has been more successful in exporting tea probably because producers from that nation have been proactive. Sri Lanka also fetches more per kg of tea than India and Kenya “They do lots of promotions. Moreover, many of them have tied up with Chinese firms,” Qing said.

China buys CTC tea because it can be used to create several tea-based drinks.