Kolkata, Aug 18 (IANS): Tea production in the country rose by seven percent during April-June at 551.35 million kg (mkg) as against 515.4 mkg in the same period in 2014, according to the Tea Board of India.

The estimated rise in production comes in the wake of a below normal monsoon while a majority of tea companies continued to produce a negative balance sheet during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The harvest from north India, which accounts for over 40 percent of the national produce in terms of volume, rose by 7.5 percent at 241.72 mkg as compared to 224.80 mkg in the April-June last year.

Production from Assam, which produces the bulk of CTC leaves and accounts for a major chunk of exports, rose only 2.8 percent in three months.

Production from Assam stood at 149.23 mkg in these three months this year while it was 145.19 mkg last year.

The quality first flush produce from Darjeeling alongwith the leaves from Dooars and Terai in West Bengal rose sharply -- 16 percent at 84.58 mkg.

In April-June last year this stood at 72.93 mkg. The produce from this region is normally sold at a premium price both in the domestic as well as international markets.

Tea from south India, which includes Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, rose moderately by 4.6 percent at 75.82 mkg as against 72.48 mkg in April-June in 2014.

According to Tea Board of India statistics, total production in the country from January-June this year was 665.25 mkg, with north India accounting for 275.22 mkg and Assam 162.55 mkg.

South India produced 123.62 mkg of the leaf. West Bengal harvested 103.86 mkg of top quality variety.