- Business
- McLeod Russel India Limited engages in the cultivation, processing, manufacture and sale of bulk black tea as the world's largest tea producer by plantation area. The company operates 53 tea estates primarily in Assam and West Bengal, India, with additional estates in Vietnam, Uganda and Rwanda; it maintains blending units at Nilpur in Assam and Dubai; and produces approximately 73-102 million kilograms of high-quality black tea annually from 27,360-38,758 hectares under cultivation, exporting to Europe, the Middle East, North America, the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Japan, China, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Chile and Australia. Founded in 1869 and headquartered at Four Mangoe Lane, Surendra Mohan Ghosh Sarani, Kolkata, India, it employs over 47,000-90,000 people directly and focuses on orthodox and CTC teas for bulk markets through subsidiaries including Borelli Tea Holdings Limited (UK), McLeod Russel Uganda Limited, Phu Ben Tea Company Limited (Vietnam) and formerly stakes in Rwandan operations. In recent developments, the company secures board approval for a debt settlement with Carbon Resources, which proposes Rs 300 crore equity infusion and Rs 945 crore debt to address over Rs 1,700 crore obligations amid ongoing liquidity challenges and insolvency proceedings; it reports Q2 FY2026 financial results with revenue growth but profit decline and an adverse auditor note on inter-corporate deposits; and continues negotiations post prior divestments including 2018-2019 sales of Rwandan stakes for USD 208 million and 2021 invocation of pledged shares by lenders.