China Production By Province: Hunan

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Hunan Province has been a leading tea-producing province in China for several consecutive years. It is known for its dark teas, particularly from Anhua, and also produces green and black teas.

WHAT IS HUNAN’S ROLE IN CHINA TEA PRODUCTION?

 

Hunan Province produced 286,800 metric tons of tea in 2024, 7.7% of China’s national total, and the sixth-largest volume of any Chinese province, behind Yunnan, Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou.

Data source: China National Bureau of Statistics, provincial and regional tea production data, compiled by Firsd Tea North America. Reporting year: 2024 (2025 data not yet released).

 

HOW DOES HUNAN COMPARE TO HUBEI AND SHAANXI, THE OTHER CENTRAL BELT PROVINCES?

Hunan is the Central Belt’s second-largest producer. It accounted for 32.7% of the belt’s 876,200 metric ton total in 2024, behind Hubei (54.1%, 474,100 MT) and ahead of Shaanxi (13.2%, 115,300 MT). The Central Belt as a whole represents 23.4% of China’s national tea production. Hunan’s share of the belt has slipped from 35.2% in 2020, as Hubei’s output grew faster. Hunan’s production rose 6.9% year-over-year in 2024. Note: 2025 production data has not yet been published by the China National Bureau of Statistics as of this writing..

 

WHAT TRENDS ARE SHAPING HUNAN’S TEA PRODUCTION?

 

Hunan is the steadiest grower in the Central Belt. Its production has risen in every year since 2015 except 2022, when it slipped 1.1%, and it is up 66% over that period, from 172,355 to 286,800 metric tons. From 2020 to 2024 it grew at a 4.5% compound annual rate, behind Hubei’s 7.8% and Shaanxi’s 5.5%. Hubei has grown faster but with sharper year-to-year swings, and Shaanxi fell 8.3% in 2024, while Hunan added 6.9% with far less volatility.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What kind of tea is Hunan known for?
Primarily dark tea, especially from Anhua, along with green and black teas.

Is Hunan’s tea production growing or declining?
Growing steadily, at a 4.5% four-year CAGR (2020 to 2024), including a 6.9% increase in 2024 and only one down year (2022) since 2015.

 

Firsd Tea North America compiles China provincial tea production data from the China National Bureau of Statistics as part of its ongoing China Province Series. For sourcing inquiries on Hubei green tea, black tea, or dark tea, contact your Firsd Tea representative or visit firsdtea.com.