2 
The large areas of land brought under Tea cultivation in India and Ceylon 
during recent years, which are now coming heavily into bearing, have caused a 
reduction in the value ; of Tea sufficiently serious to threaten the existence of the 
Industry. j 
INDIA. 
Area of Tea in dcres. 
1894 ... 400,527 
1895 ... 415,717 
1896 ... 43.3,280 . 
1897 ... 470,119 ! . 
1898 ... 501,680 
1899 ... 515,658 
1900 ... 522,487 
1901 
Total Exports 
in lbs. 
128,600,000 
135,894,648 
145,000,026 
152,811,422 
156,668,402 
172,696,137 
185,641,303 
180,841,237 
CEYLON. 
Area of Tea in acres. 
1894 ... 289,000 
1895 ... 305,000 ' .. 
1896 ... 330,000 
1897 ... 350,000 
1898 ... 364,000 
1899 ... 378,000 
1900 ... 384,000 
1901 ... 387,000 
Total Exports 
in lbs. 
84,591,714 
97,939,871 
108,141,412 
116,054,567 
119,769,071 
129,894,156 
148,431,639 
146,310,638 
In spite of constantly expanding outlets, consumption has proved unequal to 
compete with supply even at continually reducing prices. Many Estates do not pay 
at the present time, and unless a change for the better occurs, some properties must 
eventually go into liquidation. 
Another feature may prove dangerous to the . Industry, viz. : the possibility of 
China exporting larger quantities of common Tea now that the export tax has been 
reduced to an ad valorem duty and therefore falls but lightly on low-priced Tea, 
added to which the present low price of Silver is all in favour of increased export 
from China. 
AVERAGE PRICE OF INDIAN & CEYLON TEA IN LONDON. 
I88Z 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1883 1890 1891 1892 1893 189^ 1895 1896 1897 18981899 I9Q0 1901 
S.D. 
1/5 
\/A 
1/3 
1/2 
1/5 
1/4 
1/3 
1/2 
I/' 
I/- 
1882 1 1885 1 188i-|l885 1 1886 |l887 |l888 1 1889 1 l89o| 189 1 1 18921 18951 189^1 1895 1 18961 1837 1 !898| 189311900^901 
state. 
The black line shows the average price of Indian Tea. 
d^ii^d. „ „ „ Ceylon Tea. 
Until consumption overtakes production the Industry cannot be in a healthy 
To attain this end only two courses are open : — 
The extension of markets— or the curtailment of supply. 
Extension of markets seems the most feasible remedy, and has so far been 
attended with distinctly beneficial results, but a far more rapid development is 
necessary for the well-being of the Industry. 
Now that Ceylon has increased its export tax on Tea by 50%, and thus raised 
Its annual funds for developing new outlets from ^20,000 to ;^30,ooo, there is good 
ground for hoping that greater efforts will be made, more especially by encouraging 
the manufacture of Green Tea. 
Should India's petition to the Viceroy for an export tax on Tea be accorded, 
this should give her an annual sum of about / 16,000 instead of the £(^,000 so far 
annually raised by the voluntary levy ; she would then have more funds for promoting 
the native consumption of Black Tea as well as for encouraging the manufacture of 
Green Tea. 
The world's annual consumption of Green and Uncoloured Tea amounts to 
nearly 90 million pounds. Out of that total Ceylon last year contributed about 
I million pounds and India only 70,000 pounds. Surely it cannot be impossible for 
British Tea Planters to adapt the style of their produce to the wants of the large 
body of consumers of such Teas, and thus supply some portion at least of a new 
and almost untried market. 
