Tea market worldwide - statistics & facts
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China is by far the largest tea market in the world, measured by revenues. In 2023, the Chinese market generated nearly 107 billion U.S. dollars. For comparison, that is about five times as much as the Indian tea market in second place generated. It is no surprise that the tea market in China is such an important industry for the country. Originally, a medicinal drink from the Chinese province of Yunnan, this region is also known as the birthplace of tea. The hot drink therefore has a long history in the East Asian country.
Tea is produced using the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, and the harvesting process has a significant impact on the resulting product. There are thousands of varieties of tea, the four main types being black, green, white, and oolong, all of which are produced from the same plant
The growth of the ready-to-drink tea market shows the increasing demand for convenient, quickly consumable beverages.
Tea production
China is the top global tea producer, producing an annual volume of nearly 3.3 million metric tons recently. The British introduced tea consumption and production to India in the early 1800s, in order to create a competing market for China. India is the second largest producer of tea worldwide, followed by Kenya, and Sri Lanka. Sustainable farming practices within tea production have become more important lately; the estimated global production of UTZ certified tea grew forcefully in 2022 and 2023 compared to previous years. In 2023, global production of UTZ-certified tea is estimated to be around 1.3 million metric tons. This shows how much consumer interest in sustainable products has changed, and many producers are responding to this. For example, many companies have committed to promoting sustainable procurement.Trend: ready-to-drink tea
Ready-to-drink (RTD) tea is a segment of the market which is set to experience strong growth in the future; the RTD tea market is forecast to reach almost 130 billion U.S. dollars worldwide by 2029. RTD tea beverages can be still or sparkling, and with additional flavorings. As revenue increases, the average price per liter for such teas will also increase. It is estimated that by 2029 it will be just under four U.S. dollars.The growth of the ready-to-drink tea market shows the increasing demand for convenient, quickly consumable beverages.
