Tea in packings ≤3 kg market in Asia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the Asian market for tea in packings ≤3 kg demonstrated steady expansion in both physical volume and monetary value. Market volume grew from 5 090 thousand tons to 6 121 thousand tons, while the market value increased from 35 636 million US dollars to 59 563 million US dollars, reflecting a significant rise in overall market size.

This growth was primarily driven by increasing domestic production, which rose from 5 210 thousand tons to 6 262 thousand tons over the period. Concurrently, imports declined from 121 thousand tons to 70 thousand tons, and exports also decreased after a temporary peak in 2019, further bolstering the volume of tea available for domestic consumption.

A marked acceleration in market value occurred in 2020, when production value jumped by nearly 23% year-on-year, from 34 453 million US dollars to 42 360 million US dollars. This surge contributed to a sustained upward trajectory in the market's total value through the following years.

Production tea in packings ≤3 kg in Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tea in packings ≤3 kg, 2017-2020

World map of production of tea in packings ≤3 kg, 2017-2020

Tea production in packings of 3 kg or less in Asia has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, Asia produced 5 472 thousand tonnes of tea in these packings, representing a 1.5% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 8.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of decline, tea production in packings of 3 kg or less in Asia rebounded. In 2020, the output was valued at 42 360 million US dollars in Asia, showing a strong increase of 22.9% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 4.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 34 453 million US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a drop of 10.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports tea in packings ≤3 kg from Asia

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, tea exports in packings of 3 kg or less from Asia fell. In 2020, exports amounted to 284.7 thousand tonnes, marking a significant decrease of 10.7% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 20.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 319.0 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 32.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of exports in volume terms was highly diversified. Ghana accounted for 6.0% of exports, Senegal for 5.2%, and Mauritania for 4.7%, with these three countries together representing only 15.9% of total flows. The remaining 84.1% was distributed among a wide range of smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Tea exports in packings of 3 kg or less from Asia have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export volume reached 2 204 million US dollars, up by 8.2% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 15.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 686 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 11.8%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 with a rise of 20.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the partner portfolio for tea exports in value terms from Asia was quite broad. The United States accounted for 5.7% of exports, Ghana for 4.1%, and Senegal for 3.4%, with these three countries together representing only 13.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports tea in packings ≤3 kg to Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Tea imports in packings of 3 kg or less in Asia have declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports stood at 73.9 thousand tonnes, marking a fall of 32.5% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 19.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 121.4 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 32.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During 2017 to 2020, Kenya was a key supplier of tea in packings of 3 kg or less to Asia, accounting for 17.8% of imports in volume terms, followed by Russia at 4.9% and Asia, not elsewhere specified, at 1.6%. Together, these three sources represented only 24.3% of total imports, with the remaining 75.7% distributed among many other partners.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, tea imports in packings of 3 kg or less in Asia amounted to 789 million US dollars, which is 19.2% smaller year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 21.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.6%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 with a rise of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the partner structure for imports in value terms was balanced rather than concentrated. Kenya accounted for 7.7% of imports, Russia for 5.1%, and Asia, not elsewhere specified, for 3.5%, with these three jointly representing 16.4% of total flows. Many other countries accounted for the remaining 83.6%.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020