7 months, tea exports grow by double digits
Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that it is estimated that tea exports in July 2024 will reach 16,000 tonnes, worth 29 million USD, up 14.5% in volume and 6.8% in value compared to June 2024; up 52.8% in volume and 56.2% in value compared to July 2023. Average export price of tea in July 2024 is estimated at 1,796.3 USD/tonne, down 6.7% compared to June 2024, but up 2.2% compared to July 2023.
In the first 7 months of 2024, tea exports are estimated to reach 78,000 tonnes, worth 135 million USD, up 32.7% in volume and 34.8% in value over the same period in 2023. The average export price of tea reached 1,727.7 USD/tonne, up 1.6% over the same period in 2023.
According to statistics from General Department of Customs, in the second quarter of 2024, Vietnam's tea exports reached 35,400 tonnes, worth 62.7 million USD, up 31.1% in volume and 35.5% in value over the same period in 2023. Average export price of tea in the second quarter of 2024 reached 1,772.4 USD/tonne, up 3.2% over the second quarter of 2023.
In the first 6 months of 2024, tea exports reached 62,000 tonnes, worth 106 million USD, up 28.3% in volume and 30% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Average export price of tea reached 1,710.0 USD/tonne, up 1.3% over the same period in 2023.
In the second quarter of 2024, tea exports tended to increase sharply thanks to signs of recovery in demand in many markets. In particular, green tea exports dominated with 61.6% of the total export value; followed by black tea, oolong tea and scented tea.
Specifically, green tea exports in the second quarter of 2024 reached 19,9000 tonnes, worth 38.6 million USD, up 64.4% in volume and 61.8% in value compared to the second quarter of 2023. Green tea is mainly exported to Asia, accounting for 97.8% in volume and 97.7% in value in the second quarter of 2023. Only a small amount of green tea is exported to the Americas, Europe and Oceania. In the first 6 months of 2024, the green tea export category reached 32.4 thousand tons, worth 62.1 million USD, up 56.3% in volume and 54% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Next is black tea export category in the second quarter of 2024, reaching 13,700 tonnes, worth 17.3 million USD, up 18.4% in volume and 10.8% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Black tea is mainly exported to Asia, accounting for 71.3% in volume and 68.3% in value compared to the second quarter of 2023; followed by exports to the European region, accounting for 14.5% in volume and 17.2% in value; the Americas accounted for 13.4% in volume and 13.7% in value; the remaining small proportion was to the Oceania and Africa regions. In the first 6 months of 2024, black tea exports reached 26,000 tonnes, worth 33.4 million USD, up 17.8% in volume and 11.5% in value over the same period in 2023.
Vietnam - the 8th largest tea export market in the world
EU is the largest tea import market globally. According to statistics from European Statistical Office, in the first 4 months of 2024, tea imports of the EU market reached 401 million USD, up 2.9% over the same period in 2023, value of EU tea imports from Vietnam accounted for only 0.19% of the total import value.
Thus, market space is still very large and there are many opportunities to expand the market share for the Vietnamese tea industry. However, EU is increasingly setting more regulations on green and clean economy, requiring export enterprises to update information to meet the right consumption needs in this market. 5 main tea import markets in the world and the proportion of tea imports from Vietnam
Pakistan is the second largest tea importer in the world. According to statistics from the Pakistan Tea Association, in the first 6 months of 2024, tea imports into the country reached 272 million USD, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2023. An increase in tea imports shows the popularity of this beverage among consumers in Pakistan, despite economic pressures. Tea is still the main consumption item in Pakistani households and is a beverage deeply rooted in the culture and society of this country.
However, proportion of Pakistan's tea imports from Vietnam is still low and is on a downward trend. Due to many barriers, especially lack of market information, Vietnamese tea businesses find it difficult to access and place large orders with Pakistani businesses.
Notably, among the world's leading tea import markets, tea imports from the US market recorded a high growth rate in the first 5 months of 2024. According to statistics from US International Trade Commission, in the first 5 months of 2024, US tea imports reached 222 million USD, up 18.1% over the same period in 2023.
In particular, the US increased tea imports from Vietnamese market, however, Vietnam's tea market share in the US remains low and there are still many opportunities to expand market share in this market.
The income of US people is increasing and consumption is gradually increasing, which will promote the purchasing activities of importers to increase strongly again. Although the US is a large tea import market, it is also a demanding market with high standards for quality and food hygiene and safety. To boost exports and better exploit large, potential markets such as the United States, tea production and export enterprises need to invest in processing, especially paying close attention to food hygiene and safety issues.
According to statistics from International Trade Center (ITC), in the first 4 months of 2024, tea imports from the UK reached 114 million USD, an increase of 13.5% over the same period in 2023. In the UK, tea is the main drink, with a significant portion of consumers at all income levels drinking tea every day. Therefore, UK is also a very potential market for Vietnamese tea to have the opportunity to expand, when proportion only accounts for 0.2% of the total value of tea imports from the UK in the first 4 months of 2024.
Ranked 5th among the world's major tea import markets is the Hong Kong market (China), but the demand for tea imports from this market is showing a sharp downward trend. According to statistics from the Hong Kong Statistics Department (China), tea imports of this market in the first 6 months of 2024 reached 56 million USD, down 33.2% compared to the same period in 2023.
Due to sharp decrease in market demand, proportion of tea imports of the Hong Kong market (China) from Vietnam also decreased significantly in the first 6 months of 2024, accounting for only 0.01% of total import value, from 0.15% in the same period in 2023.
Demand for tea imports in major markets around the world is showing signs of recovery, which is a positive signal for Vietnamese tea industry to have the opportunity to boost tea exports in the coming time.
Although it is the 8th largest tea export market in terms of value in the world market (according to statistics from the International Trade Center - ITC), proportion of tea imports from major markets around the world from Vietnam is still very low. Therefore, opportunity to expand the tea market share is very promising.
However, to expand tea market share in the world market, Vietnamese tea industry needs to focus on improving product quality, diversifying products; Promoting production of high-quality tea, organic tea, safe tea, focusing on modern processing and packaging processes, meeting international standards.
Along with that, it is necessary to promote the Vietnamese tea brand to international market, participate in prestigious tea fairs and exhibitions to introduce products and connect with potential partners.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn