DHAKA, May 12: Bangladesh, the world’s fifth biggest exporter of tea, could become an importer of the beverage by 2015 as increasing domestic consumption cuts into exports, officials said on Monday.

“Internal consumption is rising by 3.5 per cent annually against nearly one per cent rise in production,” said S A H M Tauhid, chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB).

“If this trend continues, Bangladesh may become a tea importing country by 2015.”

Domestic consumption was 22.7 million kg in the year to March 2003 against 23.37 million kg in the year to March 2002, and stood at 22.69 million kg in 2000-01. Exports were 13.7 million kg in 2002 against 18.1 million in 2000. The export figure was 12.9 million kg in 2001.

BTB records show exports of tea fell 49.6 per cent while internal consumption rose 38.4pc over the last decade.—Reuters