September Tea Report: 2026 China Exports & US Imports
SUMMARY: Through the first nine months of 2026, China shipped 3.9% less tea than a year ago but earned 3.2% more, because the average price rose 7.4%. US imports of Chinese tea fell 24.0% in volume, yet US spending on that tea rose 13.5%, because the average price jumped 49.2%, driven largely by green tea. Black tea is the weak spot on both sides of the trade, and organic tea imports from China are still growing, though the pace has slowed.
Period covered: January through September 2026 compared with January through September 2025. Sources: China customs export data and US Census Bureau import data (HS code 0902), compiled by Firsd Tea North America.
THE KEY NUMBERS
- China tea exports: 294,453 metric tons (MT), down 3.9%
- China tea export value: $1,155.0 million, up 3.2%
- China average export price: $3.92 per kg, up 7.4%
- US tea imports from China: 6,523 MT, down 24.0%
- US spending on tea from China: $44.5 million, up 13.5%
- US organic tea imports from China: 1,061 MT, up 13.0%
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN CHINA’S TEA EXPORTS?
China is selling a little less tea, but at better prices. Exports totaled 294,453 MT through September, down from 306,432 MT a year earlier. Export value rose from $1,119.1 million to $1,155.0 million, and the average price climbed from $3.65 to $3.92 per kg.
The month-by-month picture is uneven. Volume was down in five of the nine months (January, March, May, July and August), up in February (27.6%), April (1.7%) and September (11.8%), and flat in June. August was the weakest month, down 18.4%, and September was a clear rebound. Prices were higher than a year earlier in every single month, though the gains were smallest in June (3.0%), August (3.9%) and September (3.3%). That is why value fell 15.2% in August along with volume, then rose 15.5% in September.
How are green and black tea exports doing?
They are moving in opposite directions on price. Green tea, which makes up most of China’s exports, shipped 256,618 MT, down 4.8%. But its price rose 12.9% to $3.74 per kg, so green tea export value grew 7.5% to $960.2 million. Green tea prices were higher in every month of the year, by 8% to 18%.
Black tea tells the opposite story. Volume held up well, down just 1.1% to 18,422 MT, but the average price fell 29.9% to $3.80 per kg. That cut black tea export value by 30.7%, from $100.9 million to $69.9 million. Black tea prices were lower than a year earlier in every month, with the steepest drops in May (54%) and June (51%).
Which export destinations are changing the most?
Morocco is still China’s largest tea customer by a wide margin, but it is buying less. Shipments there fell 11,022 MT (16.1%), and Morocco’s share of China’s exports slipped from 22.3% to 19.5%. Other markets with big declines include Senegal (down 29.7%), Ghana (down 20.9%) and Libya (down 51.4%). Together, those four markets account for 23,784 MT of lost volume.
Several other markets grew. Benin rose 78.9%, Mali 42.5%, Niger 24.1%, Mauritania 14.4% and Cote d’Ivoire 8.9%. Combined, these five added 12,069 MT, which offsets about half of what the four declining markets lost.
Some of the most interesting changes are in value rather than volume. Japan took 15.9% more tea and paid 35.6% more, bringing its purchases to $58.9 million. Germany bought 1.9% less tea but spent 34.1% more.
What about the United States?
The US is a small destination by volume (about 2.6% of China’s exports, or 7,560 MT), but a high-priced one. China’s customs data shows US-bound volume up 1.1%, while value rose 36.2% to $63.1 million. The average price on those shipments rose from $6.19 to $8.34 per kg. That picture is quite different from what US import records show, which is covered below.
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN US IMPORTS OF CHINESE TEA?
The US is buying far less tea from China by volume, but paying much more for what it buys. Imports totaled 6,523 MT through September, down from 8,578 MT. Because the average price jumped 49.2% (from $4.57 to $6.82 per kg), total spending rose 13.5%, from $39.2 million to $44.5 million.
Only two months showed strong growth: June (up 42.0%) and September (up 39.1%). April and May were roughly flat, January through March were down 25% to 47%, and the two worst months were July (down 49.0%) and August (down 55.4%). Across July through September combined, volume was down 29.7% while value was up 23.5%.
The rise in value is concentrated in one product line. The US Census line labeled GR TEA NF OT (green tea, not fermented, other) accounts for $5.2 million of the $5.3 million increase in year-to-date value from China. Volume in that line fell 17.3%, while its price rose from $4.13 to $7.11 per kg. In September alone, its value rose from $1.6 million to $7.5 million. Excluding that line, US spending on Chinese tea is essentially flat (up 0.3%).
China’s overall position in the US market has shrunk. Total US tea imports from all countries fell 5.9% in volume, so China’s share of US imports dropped from 9.9% to 8.0%. By value, China’s share was nearly unchanged (9.0% to 8.8%).
How are green and black tea imports from China doing?
Black tea is where the volume damage is concentrated. US imports of Chinese black tea fell 45.2%, from 3,909 to 2,141 MT, and value dropped 27.2% to $10.2 million, even though the unit price rose 32.9% to $4.74 per kg. Black tea imports were down in eight of the nine months, including 75% in August, though September narrowed to a 25% decline. China’s share of all US black tea imports fell from 5.4% to 3.1%.
Green tea has held up better. Volume fell 6.2% to 4,382 MT, but the unit price rose 44.8% to $7.84 per kg, so value increased 35.9% to $34.3 million. More than half of that value increase comes from the product line described above. China’s share of US green tea imports by volume was unchanged at 32.6%.
What is happening with organic tea imports?
Organic is the one category growing in volume. US imports of organic tea from China rose 13.0%, from 939 to 1,061 MT, and value rose 18.5% to $8.8 million. Almost all of that is organic green tea (up 14.5% to 1,036 MT); organic black tea is only about 25 MT.
The growth has slowed. Through August, organic volume was up 20.8%; August (down 26%) and September (down 32%) pulled the nine-month figure lower. Organic now makes up 16.3% of China’s tea shipments to the US by volume, up from 10.9%, and 19.7% by value, up from 18.9%. The price was about $8.26 per kg, up 4.8%.
The comparison with other suppliers is striking. Total US organic tea imports from all countries fell 21.4% in volume, so China’s share of the US organic market rose from 30.8% to 44.3% by volume. By value the share slipped from 15.2% to 14.8%, because the average price of US organic imports from all countries rose 54.6% (from $16.02 to $24.76 per kg) while China’s rose only 4.8%.
One caution: organic volumes are small, and the monthly numbers swing widely, from down 45% in April to up 206% in June. The overall trend is positive, but individual months should be read with care.
Why don’t China’s export data and US import data match?
China’s customs data shows US-bound volume up 1.1% and value up 36.2% to $63.1 million. US Census data shows volume from China down 24.0% and value up 13.5% to $44.5 million. Both are drawn directly from each country’s official records. The two systems can differ in timing, product classification and valuation, and the data does not show which factor, if any, explains the gap.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much tea did China export in the first ninemonths of 2026?
294,453 MT, down 3.9% from the same period in 2025, with export value up 3.2% to $1,155.0 million.
Is the price of Chinese tea going up?
On average, yes: China’s export price rose 7.4% to $3.92 per kg. Green tea rose 12.9% while black tea fell 29.9%.
How much have US imports of Chinese tea fallen in 2026?
Volume is down 24.0% through September, though value is up 13.5%. July and August were down 49.0% and 55.4%, while September was up 39.1%.
Is China’s organic tea business with the US growing?
Yes, though more slowly than earlier in the year. US organic tea imports from China rose 13.0% in volume through September, even as total US organic imports fell 21.4%.
Which countries buy the most Chinese tea?
Morocco is the largest by a wide margin, followed by Uzbekistan and Mauritania. Morocco’s purchases are down 16.1% this year.
About this data: All volumes are in metric tons (MT); prices are shown per kilogram. Organic tea cannot be separated in China’s customs data, so the organic analysis covers US imports only. US import records identify China and a world total only, so the destination analysis covers China’s exports.
Firsd Tea North America compiles monthly China export and US import tea trade data from customs sources (HS code 0902). For sourcing inquiries or custom trade data requests, contact your sales representative, or email: info@firsdtea.com.