Market research

Tea market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

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

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The tea market in Sub-Saharan Africa experienced significant fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. After a contraction in both volume and value in 2019, the market surged sharply in 2020 to reach 3.6 million tonnes and $8.7 billion. This peak was followed by a correction in 2021, with market volume settling at 3.1 million tonnes.

From 2022, evolving consumer preferences towards health-oriented and premium tea products supported market value, which grew to $8.3 billion even as volume stabilized. The implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2023, which introduced tariff cuts on black tea, facilitated regional trade and contributed to a recovery in market volume to 3.2 million tonnes. Concurrently, escalating input costs and inflationary pressures influenced retail pricing and consumer behavior during this period.

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 Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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 Sub-Saharan 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

In Sub-Saharan Africa, tea production reached 4 210 K t in 2020, marking a sharp 39.0% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 49.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 14.4%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 6.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.1%	(6.4%)	39.0%	14.4%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of tea output in Sub-Saharan Africa was 9 918 M $ US in 2020, showing a sharp advance of 28.4% over the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 12.1%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 3.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 7 726 M $ US, which represented a 20.0% decline, the largest drop in the period.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.1%	(20.0%)	28.4%	3.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tea from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa exported 674.0 K t of tea, a gain of 15.6% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 17.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%. The largest decline was in 2019, when exports fell by 2.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.7%	(2.3%)	15.6%	5.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Egypt consistently led the country structure of tea exports in kind. Pakistan accounted for 30.4% of exports, the United Kingdom for 11.3%, and Egypt for 10.5%, together making up 52.2% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

After a two-year decline, tea exports in Sub-Saharan Africa increased in 2020, amounting to 1 588 M $ US, a measured advance of 6.8% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 12.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 487 M $ US, which saw the largest decline of 16.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.7%)	(16.5%)	6.8%	(4.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, Pakistan, Egypt, and the United Kingdom made the biggest contributions to tea exports in value terms. Pakistan accounted for 34.6% of exports, Egypt for 11.2%, and the United Kingdom for 11.1%, jointly representing 56.9% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tea to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Following a two-year decline, cross-border shipments of tea to Sub-Saharan Africa increased in 2020, with imports amounting to 107.9 K t, up by 11.7% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 96.6 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 6.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.0%)	(3.0%)	11.7%	0.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China, Sri Lanka, and India led the structure of tea imports in kind. China accounted for 53.5% of imports, Sri Lanka for 4.9%, and India for 3.2%, together representing 61.7% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

After a two-year drop, foreign tea supplies to Sub-Saharan Africa increased in 2020, with imports totalling 327 M $ US, a 46.1% rise year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 32.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.8%. The minimum value was in 2019 at 224 M $ US, which experienced the largest decline of 8.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.2%)	(8.2%)	46.1%	9.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, China, Sri Lanka, and India were the main suppliers of tea to Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms. China accounted for 43.0% of imports, Sri Lanka for 9.1%, and India for 4.1%, together comprising 56.2% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io