Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Sets Record with ₹3,850 Crore Sales in FY 2024-25
The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) has achieved a new milestone by selling tea worth ₹ 3,850 crore in the financial year 2024-25, setting a record for the highest tea sales in its 52-year history.
According to Dinesh Bihani, Secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association, GTAC sold 169.13 million kg of tea at an average price of ₹ 227.70 per kg this year. This marks a significant jump of ₹ 800 crore compared to FY 2023-24, when GTAC sold 166.34 million kg of tea worth ₹ 3,048 crore, with an average price of ₹ 183.21 per kg.
“Despite a shortage of 60–70 million kg in Assam’s tea production last year, we still managed to sell 3 million kg more tea this year,” Bihani said. Also Read | Tea farming and its economics – The impact of global demand on local growers
Small Tea Growers Benefit Too
The rise in tea prices at the auction has also had a positive impact on small tea growers in Assam. As auction prices go up, the price of green tea leaves also increases, allowing small farmers to earn better.
According to the Tea Board of India, Assam has over 1.22 lakh small tea growers across 28 districts, with a total tea cultivation area of 114,847.89 hectares. These growers contribute about 52% of the state’s total tea production.
Assam Tea Gaining Global Recognition
Bihani also highlighted that Assam’s tea exports have increased, and more large buyers are now participating in GTAC auctions. He mentioned that a tea from the Dhekiajuli tea garden was recently sold at ₹ 606 per kg, showing the growing demand for premium Assam tea.
In the past, the Golden Tips tea from the Manohari tea estate made headlines by selling at ₹ 1 lakh per kg at GTAC.
GTAC Tea Lounge Also Thrives
In addition to auctions, the GTAC Tea Lounge, which promotes and sells tea directly to customers, recorded a turnover of over ₹ 1 crore in FY 2024-25 through its promotional and retail efforts.
Assam’s Tea Legacy
Assam continues to be India’s largest tea-producing state, contributing over 50% of the country’s total tea production. The state is celebrating 200 years of Assam tea, a legacy of rich flavor and global recognition.
“We are hopeful that the 2025-26 financial year will be another great year for Assam tea,” Bihani concluded.
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