Market research

Tea market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the tea market in Eastern Africa experienced significant volatility. The market volume reached 2.6 million tonnes in 2018, supported by massive government and private investment in the sector, including financing for the Tea Board of Tanzania which enabled factory modernization and generic promotion campaigns. A drop to 2.4 million tonnes followed in 2019, coinciding with persistent declines in global tea prices and emerging constraints on key export markets due to geopolitical tensions. This was sharply reversed in 2020, with the market surging to 3.5 million tonnes, as ongoing efforts to improve tea quality and equip processing factories with modern technology helped boost output.

The market corrected to 2.9 million tonnes in 2021 before stabilizing around that level in 2022. During this period, the sector focused on foundational changes, notably the introduction of new high-yield tea seed varieties aimed at boosting future production. Government plans to establish a domestic tea auction in Dar es Salaam were also announced, aimed at reducing trade costs and improving market access for growers. A modest recovery to 3.0 million tonnes occurred in 2023.

By 2024, structural initiatives began to show wider impact. Small-scale farmers, empowered through processing factories built via cooperatives, contributed 47% of tea sold at domestic auctions. The launch of the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange online trading platform enhanced market efficiency, while government campaigns urged the restoration of abandoned tea farms, supported by the distribution of over 29 000 tonnes of subsidized fertilizer to bolster yields.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Eastern Africa produced 4 181 K t of tea in 2020, representing a significant 39.4% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 50.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.5%. The most notable decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 6.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.1%	(6.4%)	39.4%	14.5%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, tea production in Eastern Africa was valued at 9 417 M $ US, marking a 29.4% increase from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value rose by 13.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 7 277 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 20.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.6%	(20.2%)	29.4%	4.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tea from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Eastern Africa exported 692.8 K t of tea in 2020, showing a solid 15.6% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 16.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when exports fell by 1.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.0%	(1.9%)	15.6%	5.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan (31.0% of exports in kind), the United Kingdom (11.5% of exports in kind), and Egypt (10.7% of exports in kind) were the leading destinations for tea exports from Eastern Africa, collectively accounting for 53.2% of total export volumes.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year decline, Eastern Africa's tea exports increased in 2020, reaching 1 560 M $ US. This represented a moderate 7.3% rise compared to the previous year. However, between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 12%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 4.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 454 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 16.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.0%)	(16.3%)	7.3%	(4.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Pakistan (35.4% of exports in value terms), Egypt (11.5% of exports in value terms), and the United Kingdom (11.3% of exports in value terms) remained the primary markets for Eastern Africa's tea exports, together accounting for 58.1% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tea to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, tea imports to Eastern Africa increased in 2020, reaching a total of 3.0 K t. This marked a gradual 4.0% uptick compared to the previous year. However, between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased significantly by 62.2%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 27.7%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 3.0 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 62.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.2%)	(62.8%)	4.0%	(27.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the supplier portfolio for tea imports to Eastern Africa was broad and diverse. South Africa (10.0% of imports in kind), India (5.5% of imports in kind), and China (1.5% of imports in kind) together contributed only 17.0% of total import volumes, while many other countries held smaller but notable shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Eastern Africa imported 26 M $ US worth of tea in 2020, representing a controlled 4.2% year-over-year increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 14.4%, with a compound annual decline rate of 5.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 25 M $ US, which saw the largest decline of 28.9%. In contrast, the highest value was recorded in 2018 at 36 M $ US, marking the largest increase of 15.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.5%	(28.9%)	4.2%	(5.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the geographical structure of tea imports to Eastern Africa in value terms was highly diversified. South Africa (26.4% of imports in value terms), India (5.1% of imports in value terms), and Sri Lanka (2.6% of imports in value terms) together accounted for only 34.1% of total import value, while the remaining 65.9% was distributed among numerous smaller partner countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io