Top 10 Tea Exporting Countries in the World (2023-24)

Key Highlights:

Leading Tea Producers: The top five tea-producing countries are China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
Top Tea Exporters: China, Kenya, Sri Lanka, India, and Poland are the leading tea-exporting nations.
Major Tea Export Companies: Prominent companies include Tata Global Beverages (India), Long Jing (China), Dilmah (Sri Lanka), Bigelow Tea Company (USA), and Ceylon Tea (Sri Lanka).
Types of Tea Exported: The main varieties exported globally include black tea, green tea, matcha tea, and oolong tea.
Despite the diverse culinary practices around the world, one beverage unites us all—tea. This globally cherished drink is celebrated not only for its delightful flavors but also for its numerous health benefits. The tea market was valued at approximately US$276.30 billion in 2023-24, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.86% in the coming years. While several countries like Sri Lanka, India, and Kenya are known for their tea exports, China remains the largest tea exporter worldwide. This blog will delve into the top tea-exporting countries, their export values, and the latest tea export data. Additionally, we will explore the types of tea exported globally and the leading tea-exporting companies.

Tea Export Data: 2023-24

According to recent tea export data:
Total tea exports reached US$8.13 billion, constituting about 0.034% of total world exports in 2023.
There was a 1.27% decline in tea exports from US$8.24 billion in 2022 to US$8.13 billion in 2023.
Approximately 1.4 million shipments were recorded, involving 60,000 tea exporters supplying 64,000 tea buyers globally.

Biggest Tea Producers in the World
Here’s a list of the top tea-producing countries along with their production values:

China: 2.4 million MT
India: 900,000 MT
Kenya: 305,000 MT
Sri Lanka: 300,000 MT
Turkey: 175,000 MT
Indonesia: 157,000 MT
Vietnam: 117,000 MT
Japan: 89,000 MT
Iran: 84,000 MT
Argentina: 70,000 MT

In total, global tea production exceeded 7 million tonnes in 2023. While tea originated in China, which remains the world’s largest producer with a remarkable 2.4 million metric tonnes in 2023, India holds the second position in terms of quality and is the largest consumer of tea globally.

Top Tea Exporting Countries
Here’s a list of the leading tea-exporting countries and their export values:

S.No	Country	Export Value
1	China	US$ 1,739 million
2	Kenya	US$ 1,383 million
3	Sri Lanka	US$ 1,383 million
4	India	US$ 761 million
5	Poland	US$ 235 million
6	Germany	US$ 228 million
7	Japan	US$ 210 million
8	United Arab Emirates	US$ 152 million
9	United Kingdom	US$ 121 million
10	Vietnam	US$ 115 million

China is the largest tea exporter globally, accounting for around 45% of total tea exports, valued at US$ 1,739 million. Kenya and Sri Lanka follow closely with US$ 1,383 million each in export value. India, ranking fourth, exported tea worth US$ 761 million in 2023.

Biggest Tea Exporting Companies
The following companies are among the largest exporters of tea worldwide:

Tata Global Beverages (India)
Long Jing (China)
Dilmah (Sri Lanka)
Bigelow Tea Company (USA)
Ceylon Tea (Sri Lanka)
Twinings (Poland)
Baihao Yinzhen (China)
Lam Dong Tea (Vietnam)
Harada Tea Processing Co. Ltd (Japan)
Unilever PLC (United Kingdom)
These companies play a significant role in the tea export market, predominantly originating from the top tea-exporting countries.

Types of Tea Exported Worldwide
The following are the main types of tea exported globally:

Black Tea: Made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, black tea exports reached US$ 6.18 billion in 2023, with Sri Lanka leading at US$ 614 million, followed by China at US$ 265 million.
Matcha Tea: This finely ground green tea powder had an export value of US$ 2.67 billion in 2023, with Brazil being the largest exporter, followed by Japan and Germany.
Green Tea: Known for its antioxidants and caffeine, green tea exports totaled US$ 2.35 billion in 2023, with China exporting US$ 763 million and Japan at US$ 99 million.
Oolong Tea: A traditional Chinese tea rich in antioxidants, oolong tea exports amounted to US$ 2.1 billion in 2023, with China as the leading exporter, followed by Kenya and India.

Major Export Destinations for Tea
The key importing countries for tea are:

S.No	Country	Import Value
1	Pakistan	US$ 707 million
2	United States	US$ 522 million
3	Russia	US$ 488 million
4	United Arab Emirates	US$ 388 million
5	United Kingdom	US$ 310 million

Pakistan is the largest tea importer, highlighting its status as a major market for tea-exporting countries.

Conclusion
In summary, tea export plays a vital role in boosting national economies. Known for its refreshing nature and numerous health benefits, tea remains a favorite beverage worldwide. The top 10 tea-exporting countries are crucial in meeting the growing demand for this beloved drink. If you are interested in finding right suppliers or importers for your business, then Join Us.

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