Leading tea exporters worldwide 2024

In 2024, Sri Lanka exported approximately 1.38 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of tea, making it the leading exporter of tea worldwide. Other major tea exporters included Poland, Japan, and Germany that year. 

Tea production

China led the world in terms of production, making 3.3 million metric tons of tea in 2023. By far the most produced and domestically sold tea was green tea, followed by post-fermented, and oolong tea as well as black tea. That year, more than half of the tea produced in China was green tea. 

Tea importers

Many countries, including Morocco, Ghana and Malaysia, import large amounts of tea from China. Morocco was the top export destination, with an export value of nearly 243 million U.S. dollars in 2023. Some of the world’s leading tea importers included Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Egypt in 2024. With a trade value of nearly 634 million U.S. dollars, Pakistan led the list that year.