Suppliers have announced that the price of black tea is expected to increase by 12% due to the potential closure of large tea plantations in Assam and West Bengal, India, caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. The situation is worsened by a severe drought. The Russian association 'Rosteaikof' is planning to appeal to the Russian leadership for a reduction in the VAT for producers to 10% in the event of a sharp rise in tea prices. The epidemic and drought have led to concerns about the upcoming harvest, which could further impact retail prices.