Posted On: January 28, 2026
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Top 10 Tea Exporters in 2024-25

Looking for accurate data on the top tea exporting countries? Discover the insights behind global tea trade with expert-analyzed data and market trends.

Explore top 10 tea exporters in 2024-25. China exports the most tea, worth $1.41 billion, followed by Kenya and Sri Lanka at $1.40 billion in 2024.-2025

Top Tea Exporters in 2024-25: Rankings, Data & Market Insights

If there is a drink that billions of people across continents choose as their go to drink for everyday consumption, that should definitely be tea. And that single (most relevant) reason makes tea exporting a topic of discussion.

What we just discussed is the demand curve associated with a basic need. Then what about the business numbers? That is where the real game is.

Did you know that the global tea market was valued at an estimated US$53 to 56 billion in 2024 25 and is forecast to grow to around US$59 billion by 2026 (with continued expansion supported by rising consumer demand and premiumisation trends)?

There are different reasons for this surge. These include the rise of e commerce platforms that facilitate international trade, the expansion of patron options and the growing demand for distinctive teas.

Tea (categorized in trade statistics under HS Code 0902 "Tea, whether or not flavored") is a significant agricultural commodity traded internationally. The annual export market is worth several billions of dollars (about $7 to 8 billion in recent years).

The value of the worldwide tea market was $50 billion. The growing demand for specialty teas is one of the key factors driving growth in the tea exporter trade. Customers are becoming more daring and inventive when choosing tea. They are searching for specific blends and flavors from particular regions of the industry.

Tea exporting nations serve a variety of markets with consistent quality and volume. This ranges from traditional black tea to premium green and specialized types.

Tea manufacturers and exporters now have the opportunity to expand their clientele and serve specialized markets thanks to this trend. Countries like China (largest exporter of tea in the world), India, Kenya and Sri Lanka understood this shift and became key tea exporters.

Even while understanding the importance of tea exporting countries, questions may arise. These include important importing regions, prospects for expansion, business to business purchasers, export values and the most recent data on tea exports.

That is where Data Vault’s detailed blog on top tea exporting countries helps. Have a cup of tea in hand, sip it laid back and scroll down to know everything needed for tea exporting.

Top 15 Tea Exporting Countries

Rank	Country	Export Value (US$) (Approx)	Volume (MT) (Approx)	Primary Type	Key Markets
1	China	1.42–1.74 B	421,000	Green & Specialty	Europe, Japan, United States
2	Kenya	1.41 B	563,000	Black CTC	Pakistan, United Kngdom, Egypt
3	Sri Lanka	1.41 B	239,000	Orthodox Black	Middle East, United Kingdom
4	India	816 M	226,000	CTC & Orthodox	Iraq, Egypt, United Kingdom
5	Poland	265 M	20,000	Re-exports/Blends	Countries of Eurpoean Union
6	Japan	243 M	n/a	Specialty teas	East Asia, United States
7	Germany	235 M	19,500	Re-exports/Blends	Countries of Eurpoean Union
8	UAE	174 M	63,000	Blends/Re-exports	Middle East & Africa
9	United Kingdom	138 M	n/a	Blends/Value-added	Countries of the European Union and the Commonwealth
10	Vietnam	114 M	97,000	Black & Green	Pakistan, Asia
11	United States	97 M	n/a	Specialty/Blends	North America
12	Netherlands	94 M	n/a	Re-exports/Blends	Countries of European Union
13	Taiwan	87 M	n/a	Specialty teas	East Asia
14	France	69 M	n/a	Re-exports/Blends	Countries of the European Union
15	Argentina	63 M	113,000	Black tea	South America, Asia

Asia and Africa are the core of the global tea trade, together contributing over 70 percent of total exports. They made it possible with their traditional agricultural practices and efficient supply chains. China, largest exporter of tea in the world (3.74 million tonnes) by its wide range of green, specialty, and premium teas. China is followed by Kenya and Sri Lanka (1.28 million tonnes) with high-volume black CTC exports.

In 2024–25, global tea production was at about 7.07 million tonnes reflecting continued growth in both traditional and emerging producing regions.

Due to growing demand for specialty teas, health consciousness, and expanding consumption, the global tea market is still growing. International trade estimates that the yearly value of tea exports is in the billions.

Countries that produce tea mainly depend on exports to sustain their trade ecosystems, farmers, and processors. Global tea exports are dominated by nations with robust climates, highly skilled workers, and effective logistics.

Important factors influencing tea exports worldwide include:

Robust networks for B2B trade
Better packaging and international logistics
Increasing demand in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia
Growth of the organic and premium tea markets

Interesting fact: Being a top tea exporter is not just about shipping more tea. Countries are ranked on volume, value, global reach, tea variety, quality standards, and supply reliability. That is why consistent, diversified exporters often lead the global tea trade, not just the biggest producers.

Note: This research provides a clear picture of how tea travels throughout the world and which markets are driving commerce by utilizing real customs data and insights from platforms like DataVaultInsights.

Leading Tea Exporters: Country Profiles

The global tea trade is largely shaped by countries that dominate through a mix of volume, quality, and market reach. In this tea export data, we can see long term competitors like China to newly emerged players like Rwanda.

China - Largest Exporter of Tea in the World

China is the world’s largest tea exporter, producing around 3.74 million tonnes in 2024-25 with an export value of $1.7 billion. Its diverse portfolio (variety of tea) spans green, oolong, and specialty teas.

Strengths:Green tea leader, wide variety, premium positioning
Top markets:Morocco, US, Japan
Data insight:According to DataVaultInsights, Chinese green tea exports to North America grew 8% in 2024

Kenya - Largest Tea Exporter in Africa

With 563,000 tons sent annually and $1.4 billion in export earnings Kenya is the second-largest exporter. The nation specializes in black CTC teas which are backed by an effective auction system and are renowned for their robust flavor and consistency.

Strengths:Black CTC, cost efficiency, organized auction system
Top markets:Egypt, UK, Pakistan

Sri Lanka - Ceylon Tea Exporter

Sri Lanka which is well-known for its Ceylon tea exports about 239,000 tonnes worth $1.4 billion. It has a significant market share in high-end black tea markets due to the quality and flavor of its orthodox teas.

Strengths:Ceylon brand, orthodox quality
Top markets:Russia, Turkey, UAE

India - Key Player in Black Tea

In 2024-2025, India produced about 1.28 million tonnes of tea, which was exported for $816 million. India is well known for its heritage teas from Darjeeling, Assam, and other places.

Strengths:Darjeeling and Assam heritage, diversity in tea types
Top markets:UAE, UK, Iran

Vietnam - Emerging Tea Exporter in Asia

Vietnam is a growing green tea exporter attracting buyers with competitive pricing and increasing production efficiency.

Strengths:Green tea focus, price-competitive
Top markets:East Asia, Middle East

Emerging Exporters

Particularly in the specialty and organic tea markets, smaller countries like Rwanda, Malawi, and Argentina are gradually increasing market share. To break into areas that are dominated by conventional exporters, they mix high-quality production with focused marketing.

Strengths:Specialty/organic focus, emerging market presence
Notable growth:Increasing exports in niche global markets

Types of Tea Driving Export Demand

Black Tea

Camellia sinensis leaves are used to make black tea. In 2024-2025, black tea exports totaled US$6.4 billion. The top two exporters of black tea are still Kenya and Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka's exports valued at about US$650 million and China's at about US$280 million.

Due to high demand from the Middle East and Africa, black tea continues to dominate the worldwide tea trade making up more than 55% of the total value of tea exports.

Matcha Tea

Finely ground dried leaves are used to make this green tea powder. In 2024-2025 matcha tea exports totaled US$2.9 billion. Due to rising demand in the health and specialty beverage markets Japan is the biggest exporter of matcha tea followed by Brazil and Germany. With premium pricing and wellness trends matcha exports grew at the quickest annual pace of any tea category.

Green Tea

Green tea has a modest amount of caffeine and is a great source of antioxidants. In 2024-2025, green tea exports totaled US$2.5 billion. With export values of over US$1.07 billion China continues to be the biggest exporter of green tea by Japan at about US$110 million.

In 2024-2025 China's green tea exports made up around 43% of the world's green tea market value.

Oolong Tea

This traditional Chinese tea is renowned for having a high antioxidant content and partial oxidation. In 2024-2025, oolong tea exports totaled US$2.2 billion. Kenya and India are the next largest exporters of oolong tea after China. Oolong tea has a significant presence in premium and specialized markets.

Major Tea Importing Markets

Region / Market	Key Tea Preference	Market Role
Russia & CIS	Black tea	High-volume consumption
Middle East (UAE, Pakistan)	Black tea	Consumption + re-export hub
UK & Europe	Premium, branded teas	Mature, value-driven market
United States	Green and specialty teas	Fast-growing demand

Due to limited domestic production and strong cultural preferences, Russia and the CIS countries continue to push large scale imports of black tea. The Middle East countries (especially)Pakistan and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) serves as a strategic re-export base.

While the US market is seeing an increase in demand for green and specialized teas like matcha, the UK and Europe prioritize premium, branded, and ethically sourced teas.

Key Trends Shaping Tea Exports in 2024-25

Global tea exports are also driven by certain market trends. Given below are the emerging ones that are redefining market standards.

Premiumization: Exporters are shifting from bulk shipments to branded to single-origin, and specialty teas (a clear quality upgrade). Consumers are ready to pay more because all that matters to them is traceability, origin stories, and assured quality.
Ethical sourcing and sustainability: Demand for fair trade, organic, and sustainably certified teas is rising (that means it’s no longer optional). Certifications is giving competitive advantage as importers actively evaluate the social and environmental impact of sourcing decisions.
African growth: Africa’s share in the global tea export market is on an upward cruve these days. Countries like Kenya and Rwanda are strengthening their export presence (both in volume and consistency) positioning Africa as a reliable alternative to traditional Asian suppliers.
Direct digital trade: Exporters are reducing dependence on intermediaries by connecting directly with international buyers through digital platforms. This is where platforms like DataVaultInsights come into the picture (helping buyers identify emerging and credible suppliers).

How Buyers Use Tea Export Data

This is the place where everything that we discussed above comes into application. Tea export data is no longer just numbers on a screen. It has become a practical decision-making tool for buyers who want clarity, speed, and confidence in sourcing.

Supplier verification (First Stage)

Before committing to a supplier, buyers closely watch shipment patterns. Consistent monthly exports, stable volumes, and repeat destinations signal reliability. You can use trade platforms like DataVaultInsights for shipment-level visibility. This research will allow buyers to see whether an exporter ships regularly to markets like the EU or the US, or only makes occasional, one-off deliveries.

Price benchmarking (Gamer Changer)

Export data helps buyers cut through vague quotes. By tracking FOB (Free On Board) prices across origins such as Kenya, India, and China, buyers can compare a supplier’s pricing against market averages.

For example, if a quoted price is significantly higher than recent shipment values from the same origin, it becomes a clear negotiation point.

Market opportunity detection (Decision Making)

Sharp import spikes often reveal emerging demand. Buyers monitor sudden increases in tea imports in markets like Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia to spot opportunities early. Acting at this stage often provides a first-mover advantage before competition intensifies.

Compliance tracking (Action Stage)

Export histories also reveal who clears strict markets consistently. Suppliers shipping repeatedly to the EU or the US demonstrate compliance readiness, reducing regulatory and quality risks for buyers entering these markets.

Challenges Facing Tea Exporters

Every industry faces challenges and success of an industry depends on how those challenges are overcome. Listed below are some of the major challenges faced by the tea export market.

Climate volatility: In major producing locations tea production and quality are being disrupted by unpredictable temperature changes and rainfall
Price pressure: Due to fierce competition and little pricing flexibility - commodity grade teas have narrow profit margins
Stricter quality standards: Testing and certification expenses are raised by stricter residue and compliance requirements in US and EU markets
Currency fluctuations: Export realizations, contract stability, and overall profitability are all impacted by exchange rate volatility

FAQs

Which country exports the most tea in 2024?

Kenya is world’s largest tea exporter by volume in 2024 mainly by strong black tea exports to global markets

What is the HS code for tea?
Tea HS Code 0902, which includes black, green, and other partially fermented teas

Why is Kenya a major exporter?

Yes, Kenya has climate conditions, high-yield plantations, competitive pricing, and strong demand for its black tea

What type of tea is exported the most?

In terms of both volume and value, black tea represents the greatest portion of the global tea trade

Which countries import the most tea?

Major tea importers include Russia and CIS countries, Pakistan, the UAE, the UK, the US, and European nations.

How can I access tea export data?

Tea export data can be accessed through trade intelligence platforms like DataVaultInsights, which provide shipment-level and market insights.

Are African tea exports growing?

Yes, African exporters such as Kenya and Rwanda are steadily increasing their global market share.

What’s driving premium tea exports?

Rising consumer demand for branded, single-origin, organic, and sustainably sourced teas is fueling premium tea exports.

Conclusion

Asia and Africa still rule the tea world, but premium, single-origin teas are stealing the spotlight.

Want to stay ahead of the game?

Platforms like DataVaultInsights turn raw export data into actionable insights on suppliers, prices, and emerging opportunities - your edge in the global tea trade.

Key Highlights:

Top tea exporting countries in 2024–25 are China, Kenya, Sri Lanka, India, and Poland, with Asia and Africa contributing over 70% of global exports.
Major types of tea exported include black, green, matcha, and oolong, catering to both traditional and premium markets.
Global tea market valued at US$53–56 billion (2024–25) and expected to reach US$59 billion by 2026.
Rising trends include premiumization, ethical sourcing, sustainability, and direct digital trade connecting exporters to buyers.
Key challenges include climate volatility, price pressures, strict quality standards, and currency fluctuations.

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