Tea Imports by Country

February 9, 2019 by

Tea Imports by Country

Hot tea in teacup

Global purchases of imported tea totaled US$7.349 billion in 2017.

Overall, the value of imported tea for all buyer countries fell by an average -0.5% since 2013 when tea purchases equaled at $7.31 billion. Year over year, the value of tea imports appreciated by 6.8% from 2016 to 2017.

From a continental perspective, Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of tea imported during 2017 with purchases valued at $3.1 billion or 42.3% of the global total.

In second place were European countries at 30.3% while 14.7% of worldwide tea imports were delivered to customers in Africa. North America’s imported tea amounted to an 8.8% share. Smaller percentages were purchased by customers in Oceania (1.9%) and Latin America minus Mexico plus the Caribbean (1.2%).

The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for tea is 0902.

Tea Imports by Country

Top 15


Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017:

  1. Pakistan: US$549.6 million (7.5% of globally imported tea)
  2. Russia: $525 million (7.2%)
  3. United States: $486.8 million (6.7%)
  4. United Kingdom: $404 million (5.5%)
  5. Iran: $283.8 million (3.9%)
  6. Egypt: $273.8 million (3.7%)
  7. Saudi Arabia: $263.2 million (3.6%)
  8. United Arab Emirates: $238.8 million (3.3%)
  9. Germany: $225.2 million (3.1%)
  10. Morocco: $219.8 million (3%)
  11. Japan: $177.3 million (2.4%)
  12. France: $168.4 million (2.3%)
  13. Canada: $149.6 million (2%)
  14. China: $149.4 million (2%)
  15. Netherlands: $147.7 million (2%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 58.3% of all tea imports in 2017.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for tea since 2013 were: China (up 98.5%), Pakistan (up 72.6%), Morocco (up 15.8%) and Saudi Arabia (up 13.3%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported tea purchases were led by: United Arab Emirates (down -65.7%), Russia (down -20.1%), Canada (down -14.4%) and Iran (down -13.7%).

Russia

Tea Imports into Russia

Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Russia imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2013.

  1. Sri Lanka: $160.5 million (down -38.2%)
  2. India: $144.7 million (up 19.2%)
  3. Kenya: $77.4 million (up 15.4%)
  4. China: $47.7 million (down -11.1%)
  5. Vietnam: $29.6 million (up 28.1%)
  6. United Arab Emirates: $28.7 million (up 1.9%)
  7. Indonesia: $24.7 million (up 9.8%)
  8. Germany: $7.1 million (down -46.3%)
  9. Tanzania: $7 million (up 83%)
  10. Kazakhstan: $6.7 million (down -68.3%)
  11. Azerbaijan: $2.8 million (down -83.4%)
  12. Argentina: $1.9 million (up 19.3%)
  13. Zimbabwe: $1.7 million (up 466.4%)
  14. Poland: $1.4 million (down -46.3%)
  15. Rwanda: $895,000 (up 22,275%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 99% of all Russian tea imports in 2016.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of tea to Russia since 2013 were: Rwanda (up 22,275%), Zimbabwe (up 466.4%), Tanzania (up 83%) and Vietnam (up 28.1%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their tea supplies to Russian importers included: Azerbaijan (down -83.4%), Kazakhstan (down -68.3%), Germany (down -46.3%) and Poland (down -46.3%).

Overall, the value of Russian tea imports were down by an average -15.7% from all supplying countries since 2013 when tea purchases were valued at $650.2 million.

Pakistan

Tea Imports into Pakistan

Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Pakistan imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2013.

  1. Kenya: $173 million (down -3.3%)
  2. India: $52.9 million (down -41.8%)
  3. Poland: $20.4 million (up 7.1%)
  4. Netherlands: $13.9 million (up 505.3%)
  5. Sri Lanka: $11.3 million (down -11%)
  6. Malawi: $11.1 million (down -30.5%)
  7. China: $10.6 million (down -4.3%)
  8. Germany: $9.4 million (up 63.1%)
  9. Switzerland: $9.2 million (up 50.6%)
  10. Tanzania: $7.5 million (down -12.4%)
  11. Rwanda: $6.9 million (up 111.6%)
  12. Ireland: $6.3 million (down -9.5%)
  13. United States: $4.3 million (down -22.2%)
  14. South Africa: $3.7 million (up 1.7%)
  15. Zimbabwe: $2.9 million (down -20.4%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 99.9% of all Pakistani tea imports in 2017.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of tea to Pakistan since 2013 were: Afghanistan (up 1,700%), United Arab Emirates (up 656%), Ethiopia (up 345.1%) and Kazakhstan (up 302.1%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their tea supplies to Pakistani importers included: Sri Lanka (down -77.2%), Indonesia (down -34.4%), India (down -25.2%) and China (down -6%).

Overall, the value of Pakistani tea imports rose by an average 72.6% from all supplying countries since 2013 when tea purchases were valued at $318.4 million.

Russia

Tea Imports into Russia

Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Russia imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2013.

  1. Sri Lanka: US$173.9 million (down -30.7% from 2013)
  2. India: $123.2 million (up 5.3%)
  3. Kenya: $69.7 million (up 3.5%)
  4. China: $40.5 million (down -27%)
  5. Vietnam: $30.9 million (up 44.1%)
  6. United Arab Emirates: $24 million (down -59.1%)
  7. Indonesia: $19.5 million (down -19.5%)
  8. Kazakhstan: $7.1 million (up 70.9%)
  9. Germany: $7 million (down -54.3%)
  10. Tanzania: $6.4 million (up 25.3%)
  11. Azerbaijan: $5.1 million (down -67.5%)
  12. Zimbabwe: $3.5 million (up 13,262%)
  13. Argentina: $2.4 million (up 84.7%)
  14. Poland: $1.8 million (down -40.3%)
  15. Rwanda: $1.5 million (up 177.4%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 98.4% of all Russian tea imports in 2017.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of tea to Russia since 2013 were: Zimbabwe (up 13,262%), Rwanda (up 177.4%), Argentina (up 85%) and Kazakhstan (up 70.9%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their tea supplies to Russian importers included: Azerbaijan (down -67.5%), United Arab Emirates (down -59.1%), Germany (down -54.3%) and Poland (down -40.3%).

Overall, the value of Russian tea imports fell by an average -20.1% from all supplying countries since 2013 when tea purchases were valued at $657.1 million.

USA

Tea Imports into the United States

Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United States imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2013.

  1. China: US$92.8 million (down -11.8% from 2013)
  2. Argentina: $77.7 million (down -13.8%)
  3. India: $58.1 million (down -4.9%)
  4. Japan: $52.7 million (up 54.3%)
  5. Sri Lanka: $39.3 million (up 31.4%)
  6. Canada: $38.2 million (up 34.3%)
  7. Malawi: $20.1 million (up 117.8%)
  8. Germany: $14.3 million (down -46.8%)
  9. United Kingdom: $14.1 million (up 18.6%)
  10. Taiwan: $13 million (up 66.3%)
  11. Kenya: $11.2 million (up 81.8%)
  12. Vietnam: $9.3 million (down -26.8%)
  13. Indonesia: $7.5 million (down -24.4%)
  14. United Arab Emirates: $4.1 million (up 166.4%)
  15. Pakistan: $3.9 million (up 112.9%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 93.7% of all American tea imports in 2017.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of tea to United States since 2013 were: United Arab Emirates (up 166.4%), Malawi (up 117.8%), Pakistan (up 112.9%) and Kenya (up 81.8%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their tea supplies to American importers included: Germany (down -47%), Vietnam (down -26.8%), Indonesia (down -24%) and Argentina (down -13.8%).

Overall, the value of American tea imports rose by an average 2.3% from all supplying countries since 2013 when tea purchases were valued at $475.9 million.

UK

Tea Imports into the United Kingdom

Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United Kingdom imported the highest dollar value worth of tea during 2017. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2013.

  1. Kenya: US$177.2 million (up 21.8% from 2013)
  2. India: $55.1 million (down -10.3%)
  3. Malawi: $26.2 million (up 58.5%)
  4. Poland: $22.7 million (up 23.2%)
  5. Netherlands: $14.9 million (up 205.7%)
  6. China: $13.8 million (up 22.1%)
  7. Sri Lanka: $13.7 million (up 23.6%)
  8. Germany: $12.8 million (up 107.7%)
  9. Switzerland: $12.4 million (up 9.6%)
  10. Tanzania: $8.6 million (up 14.6%)
  11. Rwanda: $8 million (up 396%)
  12. South Africa: $4.8 million (down -43.6%)
  13. United States: $3.8 million (down -20.6%)
  14. Uganda: $3.6 million (up 70%)
  15. Ireland: $3.6 million (down -32.7%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 94.3% of all UK tea imports in 2017.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of tea to United Kingdom since 2013 were: Rwanda (up 396%), Netherlands (up 205.7%), Germany (up 107.7%) and Uganda (up 70%).

Four countries experienced declines in the value of their tea supplies to UK importers namely South Africa (down -43.6%), Ireland (down -32.7%), United States (down -20.6%) and India (down -10.3%).

Overall, the value of UK tea imports fell by an average -4.5% from all supplying countries since 2013 when tea purchases were valued at $423.1 million.



 

Searchable List of Tea Importing Countries

You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below.

RankImporter2017 Tea Imports% World Total
1.PakistanUS$549.6 million7.5%
2.Russia$525 million7.2%
3.United States$486.8 million6.7%
4.United Kingdom$404 million5.5%
5.Iran$283.8 million3.9%
6.Egypt$273.8 million3.7%
7.Saudi Arabia$263.2 million3.6%
8.United Arab Emirates$238.8 million3.3%
9.Germany$225.2 million3.1%
10.Morocco$219.8 million3%
11.Japan$177.3 million2.4%
12.France$168.4 million2.3%
13.Canada$149.6 million2%
14.China$149.4 million2%
15.Netherlands$147.7 million2%
16.Iraq$144 million2%
17.Vietnam$133.7 million1.8%
18.Kazakhstan$122.7 million1.7%
19.Poland$114 million1.6%
20.Hong Kong$109.3 million1.5%
21.Australia$106.4 million1.5%
22.Ghana$95.5 million1.3%
23.Italy$80.5 million1.1%
24.Belgium$78.9 million1.1%
25.Libya$74.7 million1%
26.Taiwan$74.5 million1%
27.Azerbaijan$68.6 million0.9%
28.Malaysia$65.5 million0.9%
29.Ukraine$64 million0.9%
30.Yemen$62.9 million0.9%
31.Senegal$62.8 million0.9%
32.Kuwait$60.3 million0.8%
33.Turkey$59.9 million0.8%
34.Chile$56.3 million0.8%
35.South Africa$53 million0.7%
36.Uzbekistan$52.7 million0.7%
37.Jordan$50.8 million0.7%
38.Sudan$50.5 million0.7%
39.Ireland$49.9 million0.7%
40.Singapore$46.2 million0.6%
41.Togo$43.1 million0.6%
42.Afghanistan$42.5 million0.6%
43.India$42 million0.6%
44.Syria$41.3 million0.6%
45.Spain$39 million0.5%
46.Sweden$38.3 million0.5%
47.Switzerland$35.5 million0.5%
48.Nigeria$34 million0.5%
49.Algeria$33.9 million0.5%
50.Denmark$33.6 million0.5%
51.Oman$33 million0.5%
52.Belarus$28.3 million0.4%
53.Lebanon$28 million0.4%
54.New Zealand$27.5 million0.4%
55.Austria$26.9 million0.4%
56.Czech Republic$25.4 million0.3%
57.Indonesia$24.9 million0.3%
58.Mali$23.7 million0.3%
59.Sri Lanka$23.7 million0.3%
60.Myanmar (Burma)$22.2 million0.3%
61.Mauritania$18.7 million0.3%
62.Norway$17 million0.2%
63.Qatar$16.8 million0.2%
64.South Korea$16 million0.2%
65.Gambia$15.9 million0.2%
66.Thailand$15.9 million0.2%
67.Lithuania$15.9 million0.2%
68.Finland$15.7 million0.2%
69.Kenya$14.2 million0.2%
70.Guinea$12.2 million0.2%
71.Kyrgyzstan$11.4 million0.2%
72.Niger$10.2 million0.1%
73.Côte d'Ivoire$10 million0.1%
74.Latvia$9.9 million0.1%
75.Mexico$9.9 million0.1%
76.Israel$9.5 million0.1%
77.Greece$9 million0.1%
78.Moldova$8.6 million0.1%
79.Tunisia$8.6 million0.1%
80.Tajikistan$8.4 million0.1%
81.Hungary$8.4 million0.1%
82.Cameroon$7.9 million0.1%
83.Botswana$7.9 million0.1%
84.Georgia$7.5 million0.1%
85.Macao$7.3 million0.1%
86.Portugal$7.3 million0.1%
87.Philippines$6.9 million0.1%
88.Burkina Faso$6.7 million0.1%
89.Estonia$5.5 million0.1%
90.Romania$5.3 million0.1%
91.Namibia$5.2 million0.1%
92.Bulgaria$5.2 million0.1%
93.Turkmenistan$5.2 million0.1%
94.Angola$4.8 million0.1%
95.Mongolia$4.4 million0.1%
96.Mozambique$4.3 million0.1%
97.Slovakia$4 million0.1%
98.Somalia$3.9 million0.1%
99.Zambia$3.7 million0.1%
100.Brazil$3.7 million0.1%
101.Congo$3.4 million0.05%
102.Zimbabwe$3.4 million0.05%
103.Luxembourg$3.3 million0.04%
104.Cyprus$3.3 million0.04%
105.Trinidad/Tobago$3.1 million0.04%
106.Bahrain$2.8 million0.04%
107.Cambodia$2.8 million0.04%
108.Swaziland$2.7 million0.04%
109.Malta$2.7 million0.04%
110.Fiji$2.6 million0.04%
111.Armenia$2.6 million0.04%
112.Maldives$2.5 million0.03%
113.Lesotho$2.4 million0.03%
114.Peru$2.2 million0.03%
115.Argentina$2.1 million0.03%
116.Macedonia$2.1 million0.03%
117.Uruguay$2.1 million0.03%
118.Gabon$2 million0.03%
119.Panama$1.8 million0.03%
120.Colombia$1.8 million0.02%
121.Croatia$1.8 million0.02%
122.Slovenia$1.8 million0.02%
123.Suriname$1.8 million0.02%
124.Iceland$1.7 million0.02%
125.Brunei Darussalam$1.7 million0.02%
126.Guatemala$1.6 million0.02%
127.Costa Rica$1.6 million0.02%
128.Jamaica$1.6 million0.02%
129.Palestine$1.5 million0.02%
130.Sierra Leone$1.4 million0.02%
131.Djibouti$1.4 million0.02%
132.Paraguay$1.3 million0.02%
133.Barbados$1.3 million0.02%
134.Bangladesh$1.2 million0.02%
135.Bahamas$1.2 million0.02%
136.Chad$1.2 million0.02%
137.Bolivia$1.1 million0.01%
138.Nepal$1 million0.01%
139.South Sudan$939,0000.01%
140.Guyana$888,0000.01%
141.Liberia$860,0000.01%
142.Mauritius$815,0000.01%
143.Dominican Rep$787,0000.01%
144.Nicaragua$756,0000.01%
145.New Caledonia$746,0000.01%
146.Serbia$665,0000.01%
147.Democ. Rep. Congo$640,0000.01%
148.Eritrea$636,0000.01%
149.Bosnia/Herzegovina$522,0000.01%
150.Cuba$511,0000.01%
151.Curaçao$489,0000.01%
152.Tanzania$476,0000.01%
153.Andorra$472,0000.01%
154.Greenland$470,0000.01%
155.Benin$427,0000.01%
156.Faroe Islands$409,0000.01%
157.Montenegro$406,0000.01%
158.Belize$403,0000.01%
159.Seychelles$401,0000.01%
160.El Salvador$389,0000.01%
161.Honduras$359,0000.005%
162.Cayman Islands$346,0000.005%
163.Bermuda$329,0000.004%
164.Antigua/Barbuda$326,0000.004%
165.French Polynesia$324,0000.004%
166.Bhutan$322,0000.004%
167.Aruba$319,0000.004%
168.Timor-Leste$300,0000.004%
169.Cabo Verde$281,0000.004%
170.Uganda$279,0000.004%
171.Papua New Guinea$266,0000.004%
172.Ecuador$262,0000.004%
173.Malawi$230,0000.003%
174.Saint Lucia$218,0000.003%
175.Venezuela$210,0000.003%
176.Samoa$202,0000.003%
177.Gibraltar$196,0000.003%
178.Ethiopia$196,0000.003%
179.Rwanda$194,0000.003%
180.Laos$179,0000.002%
181.Equatorial Guinea$154,0000.002%
182.US Minor Outlying Is$144,0000.002%
183.Albania$141,0000.002%
184.Haiti$128,0000.002%
185.Kiribati$105,0000.001%
186.St Vincent/Grenadines$99,0000.001%
187.Comoros$91,0000.001%
188.Madagascar$87,0000.001%
189.British Virgin Islands$85,0000.001%
190.Dominica$73,0000.001%
191.Cook Islands$68,0000.001%
192.Vanuatu$55,0000.001%
193.Guinea-Bissau$40,0000.001%
194.Grenada$38,0000.001%
195.Turks/Caicos Islands$34,0000.0005%
196.Sao Tome/Principe$33,0000.0005%
197.Northern Mariana Is$32,0000.0004%
198.St. Pierre/Miquelon$26,0000.0004%
199.Saint Kitts /Nevis$25,0000.0003%
200.Tonga$22,0000.0003%
201.Nauru$22,0000.0003%
202.Saint Helena$19,0000.0003%
203.Micronesia$19,0000.0003%
204.Bonaire/St Eustatius/Saba$19,0000.0003%
205.Niue$12,0000.0002%
206.Wallis/Futuna Is$9,0000.0001%
207.Norfolk Island$7,0000.0001%
208.North Korea$7,0000.0001%
209.Falkland Is (Malvinas)$7,0000.0001%
210.Solomon Islands$7,0000.0001%
211.St Maarten (Dutch)$4,0000.0001%
212.Anguilla$4,0000.0001%
213.Montserrat$3,0000.00004%
214.Burundi$3,0000.00004%
215.Marshall Islands$2,0000.00003%
216.Palau$2,0000.00003%
217.French S./Antarctic Terr$1,0000.00001%


See also Tea Exports by Country, Coffee Exports by Country and Coffee Imports by Country

Research Sources:
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Imports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 28, 2018

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 28, 2018

Investopedia, Net Importer Definition. Accessed on May 28, 2018







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