Market research

Tea market in Central America

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

The tea market in Central America expanded from 3 357 tons in 2018 to 3 708 tons in 2019, then surged to a peak of 4 980 tons in 2020. This initial growth period coincided with the reinforcement of electrical transport infrastructure in Panama, which likely improved logistics and supported higher import volumes into the region.

After the peak, market volume corrected sharply to 3 610 tons in 2021. It then stabilized around 3 583 tons in 2022, a year when the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted global supply chains, raised transportation costs, and increased price pressures, constraining market expansion. The market recovered modestly to 3 960 tons in 2023.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production tea in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Central America's tea production rebounded after two years of decline. In 2019, production hit its lowest point at 1 191 tonnes, marking a 3.1% decrease. However, in 2020, production increased by 2.4% year-over-year, reaching 1 220 tonnes.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.8%)	(3.1%)	2.4%	(0.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tea from Central America

Exports in kind, t

Tea exports from Central America have grown for the second consecutive year. In 2018, exports fell to their minimum of 265 tonnes, a 15.4% decline. By 2020, exports surged to 496 tonnes, representing a 63.3% increase compared to the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, exports rose by 58.3%, averaging an annual growth rate of 16.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(15.4%)	14.5%	63.3%	16.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States and the Dominican Republic were the primary destinations for Central America's tea exports, together accounting for 57.7% of the total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values showed significant volatility during this period. In 2018, exports reached their lowest point at 1 679 thousand US dollars, a 32.9% drop. By 2020, exports peaked at 4 491 thousand US dollars, a 131.6% increase from the previous year. The gap between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2018 was 2.7-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(32.9%)	15.5%	131.6%	21.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and the Dominican Republic remained the key buyers of Central American tea in value terms, jointly making up 45.8% of total export earnings.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tea to Central America

Imports in kind, t

Tea imports into Central America have risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports jumped to 4 256 tonnes, a sharp 50.9% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 85.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.4%	17.9%	50.9%	22.9%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the United States, China, and Colombia were the leading sources of tea imports into Central America by volume. The United States contributed 33.9%, China 13.2%, and Colombia 10.0%, together representing 57.1% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Central America imported tea worth 18 819 thousand US dollars, a 5.0% year-over-year increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 3.0% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 19.2%. From 2017 to 2020, import values rose by 21.5%, averaging an annual growth rate of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.2%	(3.0%)	5.0%	6.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, China, and Colombia formed the main group of suppliers for Central America's tea imports by value. The United States accounted for 31.2%, China for 14.2%, and Colombia for 8.6%, totaling 54.0% of import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io