Tea Export Situation

According to customs statistics, from January to August 2025, China exported 269,000 tons of tea, with a value of approximately 980 million dollars, representing year-on-year increases of 13.9% and 8.0% respectively. The average price was $3.6 per kilogram, a decrease of 5.2% compared to the same period last year.

Among various tea categories, exports of green tea (236,000 tons), black tea (16,000 tons), and jasmine tea (4,746 tons) showed an upward trend, with green tea experiencing the largest increase of 16%. Exports of oolong tea (9,785 tons), pu‘er tea(shu cha) (956 tons), white tea (270 tons), dark tea (269 tons), and other scented teas (74 tons) showed a downward trend. Dark tea saw the largest decline in both volume and value, dropping by 21.6% and 44.3% respectively. The average price of white tea decreased the most, by 33.4%.

The top 10 export markets for tea were Morocco, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, and Japan. Exports to Côte d'Ivoire saw the largest increase in both volume (8,744 tons) and value (37.57 million dollars), soaring by 496.8% and 512% year-on-year respectively. Exports to Ghana experienced the largest decrease in both volume (13,000 tons) and value (53.94 million dollars), dropping by 51.5% and 51.2% respectively.

Tea Import Situation

According to customs statistics, from January to August 2025, China imported 40,000 tons of tea, with a value of approximately $120 million dollars and an average price of $2.9 per kilogram. These figures represent year-on-year increases of 14.3%, 17.2%, and 2.5% respectively.

Imports of black tea (32,000 tons), oolong tea (854 tons), other scented teas (311 tons), and jasmine tea (18 tons) showed growth. Other scented teas saw the largest increase in both import volume and value, rising by 78.2% and 68.4% respectively. Imports of green tea (6,837 tons) and mate tea (140 tons) showed a downward trend. Mate tea imports saw the largest volume decrease of 21.6%, while jasmine tea imports saw the largest value decrease of 19.5%.

The top 5 import markets for tea were Vietnam (9,327 tons), India (8,427 tons), Kenya (7,393 tons), Sri Lanka (6,966 tons), and Myanmar (1,418 tons). Imports from India saw the largest increase in both volume and value, surging by 142.1% and 189.3% respectively.