Double Reduction in Volume and Value of Chinese Tea Export in 2023

Customs statistics show that China’s tea exports totaled 367,500 tons in 2023, a decrease of 0.77 million tons (a 2.05% year-over-year decrease) compared with the whole year of 2022.

Tea exports amounted to $1.741 billion, with a $341 million less than in 2022, equal to a 16.38% decline year-on-year.

Average price reaches 4.74 US dollars/kg, a decrease of 0.81 US dollars/kg or 14.63% compared with that in 2022.

By tea category, In the whole year of 2023, the export of green tea reached 309,400 tons, accounting for 84.2% of the total, a decrease of 4,500 tons or 1.4% on year-on-year basis; the export volume of black tea was 29,900 tons, accounting for 7.9% of the total export volume, a decrease of 4,192 tons (12.6% decrease) than 2022; The oolong tea got to 19,900 tons, accounting for 5.4% of the total export volume, an increase of 576 tons  (3.0%);The export volume of jasmine tea was 6,209 tons, accounting for 1.7% of the total, a decrease of 298 tons (4.6%);Pu’er tea had only a total amount of 1,719 tons in export, 197 tons (10.3%) less than 2022. In addition, the export volume of white tea, dark tea and other scented tea reached 580 tons, 427 tons and 245 tons respectively.

In December 2023, China’s tea exports reached 31,600 tons, 4.67% decrease year-on-year; the volume was 131 million US dollars, 30.9% down to 2022; the price was 4.15 US dollars/kg, 27.51% descend from the same period last year.