China Tea Exports 2024

Tea exports in 2024 increased to 374,100 metric tons,generating $1.42 billion in revenue —a decline of 18.4% compared to 2023, when tea exports totalled $1.74billion.

The average export price per kilo declined sharply by 19.8% to $3.80 per kilo in 2024. China held a 14.2% revenue share of the global tea market in 2023. That share increased slightly in 2024to 14.3%, indicating the stability of China’s position as the top tea grower and second-largest tea exporter by volume behind Kenya, which mainly exports black tea.

Green tea (excluding white) totalled 323,800 metric tons and generated $1.07 billion in revenue. Black tea accounted for 6.6%, or 24,758 metric tons, generating $171 million, a 35% decrease compared to the 2023 export value and 14.8% below the 2023 value of $267 million.

White tea, a type of green tea categorized separately in trade, was the most expensive tea sold by China last year, averaging $13 per kilo on a volume of 455 metric tons.

Africa remains China ’s most important tea export destination, both in terms of volume and value, withexports of 144,876 metric tons valued at $59.83 million to five nations in 2024. Prices, however, averaged$3.44 per kilo, indicating bulk sales of inexpensive green tea.

Tea exports to the US surged in 2024 under the threat of tariffs, accounting for 9.6% of total US tea imports, making the US China’s eighth-largest tea trading partner by volume.

 Americans prefer more expensive teas, averaging $5.20 per kilo. Green tea, organic tea, specialty oolongs, and powdered tea account for the premium.

Japan has a refined taste for Chinese tea, spending an average of $4.90 per kilo. Imports totaled 10,205 metric tons, for which the Japanese paid $5 million, down 4.7% in value compared to 2023.