Understanding Tea

Chile’s Tea Trade: A Rising Exporter and Growing Importer

Chile, with its favorable climate and agricultural expertise, has carved a niche for itself in the global tea market. In 2021, Chile exported tea worth $4.43M, positioning itself as the 58th largest tea exporter worldwide. While tea ranked as the 325th most exported product from Chile in that year, its significance in Chile’s trade landscape is undeniable.

Tea Imports Exports

Chilean Tea Exports

Peru emerged as the top destination for Chilean tea exports, importing tea valued at $2.38M from Chile. Guatemala followed with $629k, Paraguay with $504k, Uruguay with $281k, and Panama with $127k. These destinations highlight the global demand and appreciation for Chilean tea.

Notably, the fastest-growing export markets for Chile’s tea between 2020 and 2021 were Peru, experiencing a significant increase of $2.19M, followed by Uruguay with $135k and Paraguay with $86.4k.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaSouth Africa28
AsiaChina113
AsiaSouth Korea97
AsiaSri Lanka126
AsiaMalaysia7,253
AsiaSaudi Arabia1,188
AsiaSingapore314
EuropeCzechia149
EuropeSpain3,655
EuropeFrance176
EuropeIceland589
EuropeNetherlands67
EuropeNorway1,604
EuropeSlovakia12,174
North AmericaAruba36,834
North AmericaCanada3,525
North AmericaCosta Rica23,842
North AmericaGuatemala629,009
North AmericaHonduras66,722
North AmericaJamaica7
North AmericaNicaragua19
North AmericaPanama127,484
North AmericaEl Salvador50,641
North AmericaUnited States67,572
OceaniaAustralia331
South AmericaArgentina60,025
South AmericaBolivia41,244
South AmericaBrazil6,956
South AmericaColombia54,548
South AmericaEcuador42,564
South AmericaPeru2,376,381
South AmericaParaguay503,911
South AmericaUruguay280,738
South AmericaVenezuela34,409
Table: Where Does Chile Export Its Tea (2021)

Tea Imports in Chile

In 2021, Chile imported tea worth $59.9M, positioning itself as the 34th largest tea importer globally. Although tea ranked as the 257th most imported product in Chile that year, its import trends reflect a growing demand for a diverse range of teas within the country. Chile primarily imports tea from Sri Lanka, Kenya, Argentina, Poland, and Peru. Sri Lanka held the largest share, accounting for $35.7M in tea imports, followed by Kenya with $5.3M, Argentina with $4.77M, Poland with $3.28M, and Peru with $3.08M.

Notably, between 2020 and 2021, Peru witnessed significant growth in tea imports by Chile, with an increase of $3M. Poland followed suit with a notable increase of $991k, while China experienced a rise of $789k.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaKenya5,295,722
AfricaNigeria22
AfricaSouth Africa12,070
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates121,146
AsiaChina2,778,756
AsiaHong Kong122
AsiaIndonesia933
AsiaIndia59,050
AsiaIsrael15,244
AsiaJapan67,009
AsiaSouth Korea6,544
AsiaLebanon272
AsiaSri Lanka35,667,653
AsiaPakistan17,217
AsiaSyria1,125
AsiaThailand131
AsiaTurkey18,003
AsiaVietnam443,954
AsiaChinese Taipei59,732
EuropeAustria11
EuropeBelgium34,532
EuropeSwitzerland134
EuropeCzechia217
EuropeGermany544,233
EuropeDenmark2,754
EuropeSpain60,957
EuropeFrance4,763
EuropeUnited Kingdom518,272
EuropeGreece66
EuropeItaly86,019
EuropeNetherlands870,724
EuropePoland3,280,423
EuropeRussia367,360
EuropeSweden12,378
North AmericaCanada72,920
North AmericaCosta Rica90
North AmericaMexico107
North AmericaUnited States1,606,980
South AmericaArgentina4,773,482
South AmericaBolivia2,792
South AmericaBrazil151
South AmericaColombia8,278
South AmericaEcuador52
South AmericaPeru3,081,548
South AmericaUruguay55
South AmericaVenezuela17,418
Table: Where Does Chile Import Its Tea (2021)

Vietnam Tea: A Popular and Reliable Choice for Chile’s Imports

Vietnam tea has consistently been a popular and trustworthy choice for Chile, thanks to its premium quality and competitive pricing. In 2021, Chile imported tea from Vietnam with a total value of $443,954. Vietnam holds a significant position as an important supplier of tea to Chile, catering to its tea requirements effectively.

Tariffs and Trade Dynamics

In 2018, the average tariff for tea imports in Chile was 3.5%. Chile maintains import tariffs to support local tea production and safeguard domestic industries. The countries with the highest import tariffs for tea in Chile were Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cape Verde, each applying a Most Favoured Nation duty rate treatment of 6%.

Conclusion

Chile’s tea industry is experiencing steady growth, positioning itself as a notable exporter and importer in the global tea trade. With its favorable climate and commitment to producing high-quality teas, Chile continues to captivate tea enthusiasts worldwide. As Chile expands its tea exports to existing and emerging markets, the industry is poised for further development. Additionally, Chile’s growing imports signify the nation’s growing tea culture and the expanding demand for a diverse range of teas within its borders. As Chile navigates the global tea trade, it will play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the industry and furthering the appreciation of tea among tea connoisseurs worldwide.

Data: BACI

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