The global tea importers market remained highly active in 2025, supported by steady consumer demand for black tea, green tea, and specialty tea products across both mature and emerging markets. Tea continues to be one of the most widely traded agricultural commodities worldwide. According to Tendata, international tea import activity showed strong volume and consistent trade frequency throughout the year.

Global Tea Import Market Overview

Based on Tendata global trade data, tea imports in 2025 reached substantial levels:

· Number of Importers: 24,767

· Total Import Weight: 1,588,267,502 kg

· Total Import Value: USD 2,247,434,110

· Total Trades: 596,212

These figures reflect a broad and diversified importer base, ranging from multinational beverage companies to regional distributors and packaging firms.

Top Tea Importers in 2025

The 2025 rankings underscore Pakistan's status as the world’s leading tea importer. TAPAL TEA PRIVATE LIMITED stands as the global leader, capturing a remarkable 8.28% of the market share with a total import value of $186.05 million. This reflects the massive scale of the Pakistani tea market, where black tea is the most consumed beverage nationwide.

Other significant players include regional powerhouses in Kazakhstan (Coca-Cola Almaty) and Russia (Orimi), highlighting the strong demand for both traditional loose-leaf tea and ready-to-drink (RTD) tea products in the CIS region.

Top 10 Global Tea Importers by Value (2025):

1. TAPAL TEA (Pakistan): $186.05 Million (8.28%)

2. EASTREN PRODUCTS (Pakistan): $84.06 Million (3.74%)

3. JAMES FINLAY MOMBASA (Kenya/Global): $52.92 Million (2.35%)

4. ORIMI (Russia): $51.64 Million (2.30%)

5. COCA-COLA ALMATY BOTTLERS (Kazakhstan): $32.14 Million (1.43%)

6. SSK EXPORTS LTD: $21.97 Million (0.98%)

7. KOSIPI (Kazakhstan): $21.83 Million (0.97%)

8. YOUSAFZAI FOODS: $21.71 Million (0.97%)

9. C STEINWEG BRIDGE KENYA: $20.82 Million (0.93%)

10. LIPTON PAKISTAN: $19.90 Million (0.89%)

Although Tapal Tea held a leading position, the top 10 tea importers together accounted for less than 26% of total import value. This indicates a competitive and fragmented market with thousands of active buyers worldwide.

The high number of trades—nearly 600,000 transactions—suggests frequent shipments and stable purchasing cycles, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa.

Conclusion

Global tea imports exceeded USD 2.24 billion in 2025, driven by strong consumer demand and a wide base of international buyers. With over 24,000 tea importers globally, the market offers significant opportunities for tea exporters, packers, and distributors seeking to expand into new regions.

By using Tendata global trade data, businesses can identify key tea importers, analyze purchasing behavior, and develop data-driven strategies to succeed in the global tea trade market.