Bangladesh's tea export is likely to be doubled this year due to higher production, thanks to a favorable weather, local newspaper The Financial Express reported Sunday.

Planters said the export of tea might reach nearly 7.0 million kilograms this year against 3.0 million kg in the previous year.

The target of tea production has been set at 58 million kg for this year.

"We are expecting to achieve the target of tea production this season and tea export volume will definitely rise," said Shantanu Biswas, Chairman of Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh.

He said better weather had contributed to higher production this season.

The domestic market consumed around 48 million kg of tea last year. Tea producers said the demand for tea might rise to around 50 million kg this year.

A bumper production of 60 million kg of tea was recorded in 2005.

The country's around 150 tea gardens, located mainly in northeastern Sylhet and southeastern Chittagong districts, were hit by drought in 2006 when production fell to 53.8 million kg.

Bangladesh exports tea mainly to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Middle East countries.