Market research

Tea market in Zimbabwe

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Zimbabwe's tea market volume showed notable shifts between 2018 and 2022. After reaching 54 102 tonnes in 2018, it dipped to 51 632 tonnes the following year. A strong recovery followed in 2020, pushing the volume to 68 021 tonnes, before a multi-year contraction brought it down to 58 642 tonnes by 2022.

The market decline continued into 2023, with volume falling to 55 430 tonnes. This drop was chiefly caused by severe weather, as insufficient and late rainfall led to lower tea yields and a 14% reduction in plantation area. Production was further hampered by the temporary closure of key processing factories, such as the EHPL plant in Honde Valley, for essential maintenance.

In 2024, major industry players like Ariston Holdings and Tanganda Tea Company initiated strategic changes. Ariston consolidated its processing operations and installed solar plants to counter power outages, focusing on quality to boost volumes. Meanwhile, the 25% RBZ export retention scheme continued to influence market behavior, encouraging some producers to channel more tea into the domestic market to avoid associated costs.

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 Zimbabwe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Zimbabwe in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Zimbabwe in value, 2018-2023, $ US
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 Zimbabwe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Zimbabwe ranked 20th globally in tea production between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tea, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Zimbabwe produced 80,000 tons of tea, marking a 21.2% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 19.4%, averaging an annual growth rate of 6.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 66,000 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Zimbabwe in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.5%	(2.9%)	21.2%	6.1%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, Zimbabwe's tea output was valued at 107.3 million US dollars, up 12.0% from 2019. The lowest value occurred in 2019 at 95.8 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2018 at 113.2 million US dollars. The most significant drop was in 2019, with a 15.4% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.3%	(15.4%)	12.0%	(0.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tea from Zimbabwe

Exports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Zimbabwe's tea exports fell in 2020, totaling 12,138 tons—a sharp 16.5% drop from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 9.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.2%. The peak was in 2019 at 14,534 tons, and the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 6.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.2%	2.1%	(16.5%)	(3.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa and Mozambique were the primary markets for Zimbabwe's tea exports in volume, together accounting for 94.6% of total flows, with other partners making up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Zimbabwe's tea exports in value terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports amounted to 16.282 million US dollars, a substantial 22.8% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 24.3%, averaging an annual decline of 8.9%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 23.695 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 10.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.2%	(11.0%)	(22.8%)	(8.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Mozambique dominated Zimbabwe's tea export structure in value, while other countries collectively represented the remaining share.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tea to Zimbabwe

Imports in kind, t

Zimbabwe's tea import volume declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 159 tons, down 4.4% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 68.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -32.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(35.3%)	(49.7%)	(4.4%)	(32.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa was the dominant source for Zimbabwe's tea imports in volume, holding an 88.9% share of total flows, with other markets forming a smaller portion.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Zimbabwe's tea imports in value terms fell for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 587,000 US dollars, a 32.9% decrease from the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, imports dropped by 79.6%, with an average annual decline of 41.2%.

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