Customs data reviewed by Firsd Tea show that China exported 252,493 tonnes of tea between January and August 2026, 6.1% less than a year earlier. Revenue nonetheless edged up to nearly US$991 million, thanks to an 8% rise in the average price to US$3.92 per kilogram.
Green tea remains the backbone of the trade. Its volume slipped 7.1%, but the average price climbed 13.7% and total value rose 5.7%. Morocco is still the biggest buyer despite cutting back, while several West African markets such as Benin and Mali bought noticeably more. Japan and Germany both paid considerably more for Chinese tea than last year.
In the US, imports of Chinese tea fell by more than 29% in volume, yet organic tea bucked the trend with growth of around 21%. The picture is of a market trading quantity for quality.
Source: Firsd Tea