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Exploring the Rich History and Flavors of Indian Tea Exports

Key Highlights

India consumes 80% of its domestically grown tea, with the northeast region serving as the key production area due to favourable weather and soil conditions.
India exports 20% of its tea crop, making it the world's second-largest exporter, accounting for about 10% of all tea exports.
The leading tea-growing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, with Assam producing the most
India exported $673 million in tea between April 2023 and January 2024, a reduction from the previous year's $702 million.
As per tea export data, the major export destinations of India’s tea are: Germany, USA, UAE and Ireland.
China leads in tea exports ($1.73 billion), followed by India ($469.58 million), Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Turkey, Malawi, Pakistan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
Major tea exporters in India include S.S.K. Exports Limited, Shah Brothers, Vikrma Impex (P) Ltd., Girnar Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., etc

People are differentiated on the basis of culture, region, language, and race, but there is one thing that keeps everyone united despite everything: tea. Did you know? Tea, one of the most popular drinks, originated in China. From China to Europe and Europe to India, it has covered a long journey, and now it is the second most consumed drink after water worldwide. However, India consumes 80% of tea grown domestically by itself.

In India, most of the tea production is done in the northeast region, as the weather and land over there are in favour of tea farming. The remaining 20% of tea production is exported to other countries, which makes it the second-largest export of tea. India holds almost 10% of total tea exports. In this blog, we will learn about the rich history of Indian tea exports. Along with this, we furnish you with a list of tea exports from India and tea exporters in India with updated tea export data.

Tea Exports Statistics of 2023-24

History and Flavors of Indian Tea Exports

Tea, also known as "chai" in India, is more than a beverage; it is an essential component of the country's cultural fabric. India is one of the world's biggest tea exporters, and its black tea varieties are used as the foundation for many tea mixes around the world. But how did India get into the tea trade?

Let's learn more about India's history over tea together!

Tea was initially brought to North East India in the 1840s when the British East India Company began cultivating and producing it in Assam.
Originally consumed for its therapeutic benefits, tea gradually became a popular “social beverage.”
Tea production and processing processes were developed over the ages, leading to the development of several types of tea, such as green, black, oolong, and white.
Assam, in northeastern India, is the country's largest tea producer. Its strong and malty Assam tea is extremely desirable.

Now, the question arises: which is the largest producer of tea in India? Let’s explore

Top Tea Producing States in India (2024)

Let’s explore the highest tea producing country!

Rank	Major Tea Producing States in India	Producing Values
1	Assam	347809 HA
2	West Bengal	138691 HA
3	Tamil Nadu	63912 HA
4	Kerala	35650 HA
5	Karnataka	2093 HA

So, these are the major tea producing states in India (2024). However, the largest producer of tea in India is Assam. Aside from Assam, the primary tea-producing states in India include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Tea is grown in other states as well, including Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

Now, it's time to understand India tea export data in brief.

Tea exports from India: Key Facts and Insights

Let’s explore tea exports from India at key points:

According to India tea export data, the country exported $673 million worth of tea between April 2023 and January 2024, a decrease from $702 million the previous year.
India's tea shipments to Iran have dropped drastically, from 54.45 million kg in 2019 to approximately 5.16 million kg in January-November 2023.

India tea exports

According to tea export data, tea shipments from India dropped by 1.65% to 182.69 million kilos from January to October 2023, compared with 185.75 million kilograms in the same period the previous year.

Exports from North India fell to 110.33 million kilogrammes in the first ten months of the calendar year 2023, a 4.62 percent fall from the previous similar period, according to Tea Board data.

Tea Export Data: Year-wise

Let’s explore the tea exports from India in year wise statistics:

Tea Exports from India 2021-22: India exported 201 million kg of tea in 2021-22. The overall exports from January to April 2022 were 65 million kg and valued at US$ 215 million, a 9% rise from the same period in 2021.
Tea Exports from India 2022-23: The quantity of tea shipped increased by 13.75 percent, from 200.79 metric tons in 2021-22 to 228.40 metric tons in 2022-23.
Tea Exports from India 2023-24: India exported $673 million worth of tea between April 2023 and January 2024, down from $702 million the previous year. In comparison with Jan 2023, the amount of tea exported from all of India decreased by 2.19% in January 2024 compared to January 2023.

Now, explore the top tea exporters or tea exporting countries in 2024!

Major Tea Exporting countries in 2024

Let’s explore the major tea exporters or tea exporting countries!

India
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
Turkey
Malawi
Pakistan
Uganda
Tanzania
Bangladesh
Mexico

See the table for major exporters of tea!

Global Rank	Major Tea Exporters	Tea Export Data (Export Values in Billions and Millions)
1	China	$1.73 billion
2	India	$469.58
3	Sri Lanka	$222.38
4	Vietnam	$42.46
5	Turkey	$24.67
6	Malawi	$11.26
7	Pakistan	$10.27
8	Uganda	$4.47
9	Tanzania	$4.19
10	Bangladesh	$3.47

So, these are the major tea exporters or tea exporting countries (2024). However, China emerged as the largest exporter of tea in the world, with tea exports worth $1.73 billion. Aside from China, the primary tea-exporting countries include India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Turkey, Vietnam, and Mexico.

Now, let’s explore the list of tea importers in 2024!

S.No	Major Tea Importing Countries	Tea import data (Values in million dollars)
1	United States	510.79
2	UK	310.34
3	Egypt	310.07
4	Germany	22.63
5	Japan	159.21
6	China	146.43
7	Canada	134.73
8	Netherlands	113.54
9	Australia	111.39
10	Poland	110.68

So, these are the major tea importers or tea importing countries (2024). However, the USA emerged as the largest importer of tea in the world, with tea imports worth $510.79 million. Aside from the USA, the primary tea importing countries include UK, Egypt, Germany, Japan, and China.

Let’s uncover the list of tea exporters in India

Major Tea exporters in India

The list of major tea exporters in India includes:

S.S.K. Exports Limited.
Shah Brothers
Vikrma Impex (P) Ltd.
Girnar Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd.
Asian Tea Company Private Limited (209A),
Madhu Jayanti International Ltd.
Bhansali & Co.
McLeod Russel India Limited
Balaji Agro Pvt.Ltd
Tata Consumers Product Ltd

So, India has a thriving tea export business with several big firms. Leading the charge are S.S.K. Exports Limited, Shah Brothers, Vikrma Impex, Girnar Food & Beverages, Asian Tea Company, Madhu Jayanti International, and Bhansali & Co., establishing India as a significant contributor to the global tea industry. Also, if you need an updated list of tea exporters in India or tea suppliers in India, visit Seair Exim Solutions.

How to find tea suppliers in India

To find the top tea suppliers or tea exporters in India, go to our data-driven dashboard. We provide legitimate, reliable, and up-to-date information on international trade, as well as import/export data, to over 130 nations. We provide big tea exports from India. Tea Export Data and Tea H.S. Codes.

Seair Exim Solutions is one of the most effective data-driven systems for analysing global shipments. We have a large international database so that you may acquire global trade statistics without difficulty.

Final Words

The spike in tea exports from India demonstrates the country's strong tea culture and responsiveness to global market demand. Thus, over the next several years, there will be a continuous increase in both global tea production and consumption, mostly due to growing demand in developing and emerging nations like China, India, and Japan.

Exporters may negotiate the complexity of the global tea trade by employing data insights and market analysis tools to capitalise on growing prospects for growth and collaboration. However, if you have any queries related to tea exporters in India or require updated tea export data, visit Seair Exim Solutions and explore the global market insights accurately. To schedule a free live demonstration, connect with our data experts today! Happy Trading.

FAQ's

Q1. What are the HS codes for tea exports?

Tea HS codes are considered in the following diverse categories:

Tea HS Codes: 090210

Tea HS Codes: 09021010

Tea HS Codes: 09021020

Q2. Which tea exports from India?

India, which exports tea to many nations throughout the world, is well-known for its high-quality black teas, particularly those from Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri. The main tea exports from India are: black, green, and oolong tea.

Q3. Who are the top tea exporters in India?

The biggest tea exporter in India is S.S.K. Exports Limited. Also, if you are looking for a list of tea suppliers in India or top tea exporters in India, connect with us through our dedicated data-driven dashboard.

Q4. Which country imports tea from India?

As per tea export data, Russia, Iran, the UAE, the USA, the UK, Germany, and China are some of the major importers of tea from India.

Q5. Which is the highest tea producing country?

China, with a total tea production of 2,400,000 metric tons, will be the world's biggest tea producer in 2024.

Q6. Which is the highest tea producing States in India?

The largest producer of tea in India is Assam. Aside from Assam, the major tea-producing states in India include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

Q7. Who is the largest importer of Indian tea?

According to tea exporter data, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top importer of tea from India, with an export value of approximately 13 billion INR.

Q8. Who is the largest exporter of tea in the world?

Based on tea exporters data, China emerged as the largest exporter of tea in the world, with tea exports worth $1.73 billion.

Q9. List out the top tea importing countries in the world

According to tea import data, the United States, UK, Egypt, Germany And Japan are the major importing countries in the world.

Top Tea HS Codes:

Tea HS Codes: 090210 Tea HS Codes: 09021010

Tea HS Codes: 09021020

Tea Exporters Globally

Tea Exporters in Vietnam Tea Exporters in India

Tea Exporters in Turkey