Understanding Tea

Japan’s Tea Industry: Flourishing Exports and Expanding Imports

Japan has established itself as a prominent player in the global tea market, with a thriving industry marked by substantial tea exports and a growing appetite for tea imports.

Tea Imports Exports

Japan’s Tea Exports

In 2021, Japan ranked as the 8th largest tea exporter globally, with tea exports reaching a remarkable $196 million. Tea claimed the 337th spot among Japan’s most exported products during the same year. The United States emerged as the primary destination for Japanese tea exports, accounting for a significant share of $93.5 million. Other noteworthy export destinations included Germany at $19.2 million, Chinese Taipei at $15.8 million, Singapore at $9.63 million, and Canada at $8.85 million.

Emerging Export Markets

Japan witnessed notable growth in its tea exports between 2020 and 2021, reflecting the rising popularity of its tea offerings. The fastest-growing export markets for Japanese tea during this period were the United States, with an impressive increase of $13.9 million, followed by Germany at $7.41 million and Singapore at $2.36 million. These figures highlight Japan’s success in diversifying its tea export markets and meeting the evolving preferences of international tea enthusiasts.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaAngola381
AfricaBotswana375
AfricaEgypt55
AfricaKenya338
AfricaMorocco712,933
AfricaMozambique383
AfricaMauritius17,842
AfricaNigeria28
AfricaSeychelles4,839
AfricaTanzania5
AfricaSouth Africa16,837
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates650,782
AsiaArmenia1,682
AsiaAzerbaijan565
AsiaBahrain9,822
AsiaBrunei9,958
AsiaChina1,130,995
AsiaCyprus26,722
AsiaGeorgia591
AsiaHong Kong8,629,461
AsiaIndonesia1,848,281
AsiaIndia460,006
AsiaIsrael158,991
AsiaJordan1,607
AsiaCambodia165,842
AsiaSouth Korea311,187
AsiaKuwait234,567
AsiaLaos3,918
AsiaLebanon2,489
AsiaSri Lanka317,958
AsiaMacau327,296
AsiaMaldives2,233
AsiaBurma24,981
AsiaMongolia160,865
AsiaMalaysia4,506,554
AsiaNepal3,456
AsiaOman5,311
AsiaPakistan19
AsiaPhilippines230,566
AsiaQatar19,043
AsiaSaudi Arabia93,068
AsiaSingapore9,634,081
AsiaThailand4,224,878
AsiaTajikistan20
AsiaTurkey39,643
AsiaVietnam1,252,841
AsiaChinese Taipei15,804,601
EuropeAustria50,292
EuropeBelgium562,196
EuropeBulgaria15,817
EuropeBosnia and Herzegovina7,637
EuropeBelarus1,073
EuropeSwitzerland1,376,399
EuropeCzechia609,279
EuropeGermany19,194,393
EuropeDenmark135,961
EuropeSpain937,404
EuropeEstonia27,530
EuropeFinland72,640
EuropeFrance4,195,827
EuropeUnited Kingdom2,823,932
EuropeGreece59,558
EuropeCroatia7,524
EuropeHungary128,886
EuropeIreland25,679
EuropeIceland39,126
EuropeItaly1,428,491
EuropeLithuania124,014
EuropeLuxembourg19,260
EuropeLatvia8,584
EuropeMoldova18,580
EuropeNorth Macedonia3,858
EuropeMalta5,574
EuropeMontenegro2,012
EuropeNetherlands1,706,329
EuropeNorway179,560
EuropePoland774,784
EuropePortugal57,851
EuropeRomania31,084
EuropeRussia1,448,265
EuropeSerbia10,430
EuropeSlovakia102,909
EuropeSlovenia86,860
EuropeSweden264,584
EuropeUkraine284,005
North AmericaBermuda1,438
North AmericaCanada8,849,286
North AmericaCosta Rica92,386
North AmericaCayman Islands787
North AmericaDominican Republic704
North AmericaGuatemala26,898
North AmericaHonduras4,135
North AmericaJamaica18,971
North AmericaMexico1,242,990
North AmericaNicaragua22,229
North AmericaEl Salvador28,751
North AmericaTrinidad and Tobago151
North AmericaUnited States93,498,078
OceaniaAustralia3,264,609
OceaniaFiji718
OceaniaGuam4,583
OceaniaNew Zealand226,845
South AmericaArgentina37,001
South AmericaBolivia15
South AmericaBrazil160,119
South AmericaChile67,009
South AmericaColombia139,197
South AmericaEcuador7,737
South AmericaPeru189,770
South AmericaUruguay1,376
Table: Where Does Japan Export Its Tea (2021)

Tea Imports into Japan

In 2021, Japan emerged as the 15th largest tea importer globally, with tea imports valued at $184 million. Tea ranked as the 413th most imported product in Japan during the same year. Japan primarily sourced its tea imports from China, accounting for a significant share of $54.2 million. Other notable import sources included Sri Lanka at $41.4 million, India at $22.1 million, France at $9.55 million, and South Korea at $8.63 million.

Expanding Import Markets

Japan experienced considerable growth in its tea imports between 2020 and 2021, signaling a growing demand for diverse tea varieties. The fastest-growing import markets for tea in Japan during this period were South Korea, witnessing a significant increase of $8.19 million, followed by Sri Lanka at $7.53 million and Spain at $3.95 million. These figures indicate Japan’s efforts to explore a wider range of tea suppliers and cater to the discerning tastes of its tea-loving population.

Tariff Landscape

In 2018, the average tariff rate for tea imports in Japan stood at 10.4%. Notably, Lebanon imposed the highest import tariffs on tea, applying a Most Favored Nation duty rate treatment of 16%. Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, North Korea, and Timor-Leste also implemented significant import tariffs, each applying a Most Favored Nation duty rate treatment of 13.8%. These tariff structures pose considerations for importers and exporters alike in navigating the tea trade between Japan and these countries.

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaBurundi22,881
AfricaEgypt7,251
AfricaEthiopia327
AfricaKenya8,496,316
AfricaMozambique241,219
AfricaMauritius13,633
AfricaMalawi1,551,132
AfricaRwanda24,911
AfricaTanzania73,861
AfricaSouth Africa135,816
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates2,083,786
AsiaAzerbaijan1,939
AsiaBangladesh15,776
AsiaChina54,241,761
AsiaHong Kong311,060
AsiaIndonesia3,013,097
AsiaIndia22,082,012
AsiaIsrael341,294
AsiaCambodia1,584
AsiaSouth Korea8,627,818
AsiaSri Lanka41,422,617
AsiaMalaysia28,834
AsiaNepal473,161
AsiaPakistan164,506
AsiaSingapore759,540
AsiaThailand120,454
AsiaTurkey43,761
AsiaVietnam901,895
AsiaChinese Taipei6,929,488
EuropeAustria39,050
EuropeBelgium6,706
EuropeSwitzerland28,380
EuropeCzechia12,742
EuropeGermany995,950
EuropeDenmark89,799
EuropeSpain4,928,570
EuropeFinland16,257
EuropeFrance9,546,406
EuropeUnited Kingdom5,206,246
EuropeGreece14,273
EuropeIreland162,273
EuropeIceland10
EuropeItaly46,802
EuropeLithuania1,540
EuropeMoldova3,112
EuropeNetherlands33,484
EuropeNorway140
EuropePoland5,040,300
EuropePortugal1,487
EuropeRussia58,922
EuropeSweden40,183
EuropeUkraine25,674
North AmericaCanada76,684
North AmericaUnited States4,051,561
OceaniaAustralia1,639,272
OceaniaNew Zealand39,818
South AmericaBrazil12,342
South AmericaPeru6,651
Table: Where Does Japan Import Its Tea (2021)

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

Vietnam tea has consistently been a popular and trustworthy choice for Japan, thanks to its premium quality and competitive pricing. In 2021, Japan imported tea from Vietnam with a total value of $901,895, marking a 5.6% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam holds a significant position as an important supplier of tea to Japan, catering to its tea requirements effectively.

Conclusion

Japan’s tea industry showcases impressive export performance and a growing appetite for tea imports, reflecting the nation’s rich tea heritage and consumer demand. With significant tea exports to destinations such as the United States, Germany, and Chinese Taipei, Japan has solidified its position as a key player in the global tea market. Simultaneously, Japan’s diverse tea imports from countries such as China, Sri Lanka, and India demonstrate its commitment to offering a wide range of high-quality teas to satisfy the preferences of its discerning consumers.

To maintain this positive trajectory, Japan should continue nurturing existing trade relationships while actively exploring emerging tea markets. Embracing sustainability practices, fostering innovation in tea cultivation and processing, and ensuring stringent quality control will enhance Japan’s reputation as a leading provider of premium teas. By fostering collaborations with both traditional and emerging tea-producing regions, Japan can contribute to the growth of the global tea industry while satisfying the evolving tastes of tea enthusiasts within its borders.

Data: BACI

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