India, the world's largest producer of tea, exported 49.81 million kg of tea in January-April, down 2.4 per cent from the same period a year earlier, an official of the state-run Tea Board said on Tuesday.

India exported 51.06 million kg in the first four months of 2001, he said.

Earnings from exports in the first four months of 2002 fell more than 11 per cent year-on-year to 4.13 billion rupees ($84.2 million), said the official, who declined to be named.

Indian tea exports have been hit by fierce competition from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and lower demand from traditional buyers such as Russia and Britain, according to industry officials.

Production in the first four months of the year fell 4.2 per cent to 126.59 million kg from 132.14 million kg in the corresponding period in 2001, the official said.

The deputy chairman of the Tea Board told Reuters last month that India is likely to export 200 million kg of tea in 2002, rising more than 11 per cent rise from a year earlier on the back of increased sales to Iraq, Libya, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

India exported 179.79 million kg tea in 2001, 13 per cent lower than in the previous year.