Understanding Tea

Hong Kong’s Tea Trade: Export Dominance and Import Dynamics

Hong Kong, a bustling international hub, plays a significant role in the global tea trade.

Tea Imports Exports

Hong Kong’s Tea Exports

In 2021, Hong Kong emerged as the 20th largest exporter of tea globally, with tea exports valued at $43.8 million. Among Hong Kong’s diverse range of exported goods, tea ranked as the 246th most exported product in the same year. Notably, Vietnam stood out as the primary destination for Hong Kong’s tea exports, accounting for $34.3 million. Other key destinations included China at $3.09 million, Chinese Taipei at $1.76 million, the United States at $1.4 million, and South Korea at $533,000.

Emerging Export Markets

Hong Kong experienced significant growth in tea exports between 2020 and 2021, particularly in emerging markets. The fastest-growing export markets for Hong Kong’s tea during this period were Vietnam, experiencing an impressive increase of $9.45 million, followed by Chinese Taipei at $1.51 million and the United States at $743,000. These figures reflect the expanding global demand and Hong Kong’s growing presence in these emerging tea markets.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaBenin316
AfricaBurkina Faso10,034
AfricaBotswana24
AfricaCameroon108,127
AfricaRepublic of the Congo250
AfricaComoros25,731
AfricaAlgeria77,483
AfricaKenya119
AfricaMauritius1,487
AfricaRwanda176
AfricaSeychelles108
AfricaTogo532
AfricaTanzania9
AfricaSouth Africa3,133
AfricaZambia4
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates15,746
AsiaChina3,090,215
AsiaCyprus1,465
AsiaIndonesia1,060
AsiaIndia3,078
AsiaIsrael10,614
AsiaJapan311,060
AsiaCambodia3,233
AsiaSouth Korea532,570
AsiaLaos13,908
AsiaSri Lanka983
AsiaMacau479,492
AsiaMaldives268
AsiaMalaysia125,516
AsiaNepal186
AsiaPhilippines41,138
AsiaSaudi Arabia5,781
AsiaSingapore180,308
AsiaThailand519
AsiaTajikistan1,351
AsiaTurkey778
AsiaVietnam34,294,616
AsiaChinese Taipei1,755,248
EuropeAustria1,358
EuropeBelgium54,746
EuropeSwitzerland40,434
EuropeCzechia2,639
EuropeGermany153,399
EuropeDenmark1,461
EuropeSpain820
EuropeFinland5,481
EuropeFrance98,080
EuropeUnited Kingdom314,705
EuropeHungary30,860
EuropeIreland661
EuropeIceland666
EuropeLuxembourg51
EuropeLatvia442
EuropeMalta41
EuropeNetherlands168,250
EuropeNorway628
EuropePoland1,895
EuropePortugal165
EuropeRussia6,649
EuropeSlovakia13
EuropeSlovenia1,627
EuropeSweden8,526
North AmericaBelize31
North AmericaBermuda1,405
North AmericaBarbados1,133
North AmericaCanada213,612
North AmericaCosta Rica244
North AmericaCayman Islands302
North AmericaGuatemala47,037
North AmericaHonduras581
North AmericaJamaica4,812
North AmericaMexico61,703
North AmericaPanama1,191
North AmericaTrinidad and Tobago1,914
North AmericaUnited States1,397,978
OceaniaAustralia69,050
OceaniaFiji19,527
OceaniaNew Zealand15,959
OceaniaSamoa726
South AmericaChile122
South AmericaGuyana1,274
South AmericaSuriname3,182
Table: Where Does Hong Kong Export Its Tea (2021)

Tea Imports into Hong Kong

In 2021, Hong Kong became the third-largest importer of tea in the world, with tea imports valued at $511 million. Tea ranked as the 110th most imported product in Hong Kong during the same year. Hong Kong primarily sourced its tea imports from China, accounting for a significant share of $460 million. Other notable import sources included Sri Lanka at $20.2 million, Japan at $8.63 million, Chinese Taipei at $7.32 million, and the United Kingdom at $4.15 million.

Emerging Import Markets

Hong Kong’s tea imports experienced substantial growth between 2020 and 2021, reflecting diversification in import sources. The fastest-growing import markets for tea in Hong Kong during this period were China, with a remarkable increase of $188 million, followed by Sri Lanka at $3.48 million and the United Kingdom at $2.76 million. These figures signify Hong Kong’s evolving tea industry, expanding its sourcing network to meet diverse consumer preferences.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaEgypt202
AfricaKenya570,277
AfricaMorocco4,375
AfricaMadagascar1,905
AfricaTanzania3
AfricaSouth Africa18,597
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates588,215
AsiaChina460,136,219
AsiaIndonesia255,735
AsiaIndia1,118,482
AsiaIsrael7,000
AsiaJapan8,629,461
AsiaSouth Korea197,477
AsiaSri Lanka20,164,857
AsiaMacau1,885,669
AsiaMalaysia286,567
AsiaNepal31,146
AsiaPakistan125,957
AsiaPhilippines7,614
AsiaSingapore1,997,017
AsiaThailand416,712
AsiaTurkey13,115
AsiaVietnam27,679
AsiaChinese Taipei7,320,785
EuropeAustria71
EuropeBelgium100,552
EuropeSwitzerland17,033
EuropeGermany103,685
EuropeDenmark481
EuropeSpain17,590
EuropeFinland4,289
EuropeFrance286,331
EuropeUnited Kingdom4,147,790
EuropeGreece1,164
EuropeIreland88
EuropeItaly54,230
EuropeLithuania840
EuropeLuxembourg6
EuropeNetherlands102,098
EuropePoland577,785
EuropePortugal1,742
EuropeRussia103,541
EuropeSweden312,298
EuropeUkraine110
North AmericaCanada110,894
North AmericaUnited States536,001
OceaniaAustralia217,086
OceaniaNew Zealand32,506
South AmericaBrazil4,923
South AmericaColombia128,534
South AmericaPeru312
Table: Where Does Hong Kong Import Its Tea (2021)

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

Vietnam tea has consistently been a popular and trustworthy choice for Hong Kong, thanks to its premium quality and competitive pricing. In 2021, Hong Kong imported tea from Vietnam with a total value of $27,679, marking a 6% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam holds a significant position as an important supplier of tea to Hong Kong, catering to its tea requirements effectively.

Conclusion

Hong Kong’s tea trade demonstrates its prominence as both an exporter and importer in the global market. As a significant exporter, Hong Kong’s tea exports to Vietnam, China, and the United States exemplify its ability to cater to various consumer demands. Meanwhile, its substantial tea imports from China, Sri Lanka, and Japan highlight Hong Kong’s reliance on diverse sources to fulfill domestic and international demand. The growth in both export and import markets underscores the dynamic nature of Hong Kong’s tea industry.

As Hong Kong’s tea sector continues to thrive, fostering relationships with existing trade partners and exploring emerging markets will be crucial for long-term growth. Monitoring trends in tea consumption, sustainability practices, and tariff policies will enable Hong Kong to adapt to changing market dynamics and maintain its position as a leading player in the global tea trade. By embracing innovation and forging collaborations, Hong Kong can further enhance its tea industry’s competitiveness and contribute to the diverse tea culture enjoyed by consumers worldwide.

Data: BACI

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