Understanding Tea

Thailand’s Flourishing Tea Trade: Unveiling Export, Import, and Tariff Trends

Thailand, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant flavors, has emerged as a significant player in the global tea market.

Tea Imports Exports

Tea Exports from Thailand

In 2021, Thailand’s tea exports reached a value of $25.4 million, securing its position as the 28th largest tea exporter globally. Among Thailand’s exported products, tea ranked 542nd in terms of export volume during the same year. The primary destinations for Thai tea exports were Laos, accounting for $5.49 million, followed by the United States at $3.6 million, China at $2.86 million, Indonesia at $2.31 million, and Cambodia at $2.1 million.

Emerging Export Markets

Thailand witnessed significant growth in tea exports between 2020 and 2021, showcasing its ability to expand market reach and tap into new opportunities. The fastest-growing export markets for Thai tea during this period were China, experiencing a substantial growth of $2.08 million, followed by the United States at $1.53 million, and Singapore at $722k. These figures underscore Thailand’s efforts to diversify its tea export destinations and forge trade relationships with emerging and established markets.

Where Does Thailand Export Its Tea (2021)

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaAngola7,493
AfricaCote d’Ivoire7,214
AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo6,915
AfricaComoros36
AfricaEgypt6,159
AfricaEthiopia13
AfricaKenya9,504
AfricaMorocco10,072
AfricaMadagascar123
AfricaMauritius2,582
AfricaNigeria259
AfricaRwanda35
AfricaSenegal1,573
AfricaSomalia1,212
AfricaSeychelles845
AfricaTogo59,987
AfricaTanzania846
AfricaSouth Africa806
AfricaZambia12,261
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates432,880
AsiaBangladesh20,935
AsiaBahrain44,972
AsiaBrunei212,419
AsiaChina2,863,621
AsiaGeorgia3
AsiaHong Kong416,712
AsiaIndonesia2,312,094
AsiaIndia20,225
AsiaIran141
AsiaIsrael643
AsiaJordan463
AsiaJapan120,454
AsiaCambodia2,103,408
AsiaSouth Korea438,161
AsiaKuwait19,864
AsiaLaos5,493,282
AsiaLebanon1,392
AsiaSri Lanka832
AsiaMacau87,298
AsiaMaldives21,454
AsiaBurma922,588
AsiaMongolia79,326
AsiaMalaysia634,652
AsiaNepal2,980
AsiaOman79,778
AsiaPhilippines60,538
AsiaQatar9,994
AsiaSaudi Arabia5,433
AsiaSingapore1,644,141
AsiaTurkey70
AsiaVietnam931,331
AsiaChinese Taipei259,875
EuropeAustria7,892
EuropeBelgium29,677
EuropeBelarus3,075
EuropeSwitzerland44,456
EuropeCzechia12,748
EuropeGermany235,910
EuropeDenmark28,311
EuropeSpain7,251
EuropeEstonia153
EuropeFinland27,412
EuropeFrance165,885
EuropeUnited Kingdom199,897
EuropeCroatia6,879
EuropeIreland16,802
EuropeIceland10,603
EuropeItaly174,807
EuropeLithuania396
EuropeLuxembourg26
EuropeLatvia2,390
EuropeNorth Macedonia69
EuropeMalta385
EuropeNetherlands589,812
EuropeNorway96,966
EuropePoland17,840
EuropePortugal277
EuropeRomania2,176
EuropeRussia47,510
EuropeSerbia1,413
EuropeSlovakia12,585
EuropeSlovenia2,155
EuropeSweden231,233
EuropeUkraine9,847
North AmericaBelize89
North AmericaBermuda17
North AmericaBarbados990
North AmericaCanada151,836
North AmericaHonduras152
North AmericaMexico5,271
North AmericaUnited States3,601,648
OceaniaAustralia198,731
OceaniaGuam4,150
OceaniaNorthern Mariana Islands578
OceaniaNew Caledonia3,587
OceaniaNew Zealand35,065
OceaniaVanuatu668
South AmericaArgentina97
South AmericaBolivia307
South AmericaBrazil1,126
South AmericaChile131
South AmericaColombia5,141
South AmericaGuyana9,951

Tea Imports into Thailand

In 2021, Thailand imported tea valued at $44.7 million, positioning itself as the 42nd largest tea importer globally. Among imported products, tea ranked 512th in terms of import volume in Thailand during the same year. Thailand primarily sourced its tea imports from China, amounting to $25.2 million, followed by Japan at $4.22 million, Indonesia at $3.54 million, Vietnam at $2.71 million, and Malaysia at $2.39 million.

Expanding Import Markets

Thailand witnessed notable growth in tea imports between 2020 and 2021, signifying a rising demand for diverse tea varieties from various sources. The fastest-growing import markets for tea in Thailand during this period were the United Arab Emirates, experiencing significant growth at $1.43 million, followed by Laos at $1.19 million, and Indonesia at $1.1 million. These figures highlight Thailand’s commitment to diversifying its tea sources and catering to the preferences of its tea enthusiasts.

Tariff Landscape

In 2015, the average tariff for tea in Thailand stood at 87.6%. Notably, the countries with the highest import tariffs for tea were Angola, Burundi, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Botswana, all imposing a Most Favoured Nation duty rate treatment of 90%. These tariff rates reflect the regulatory framework in place at the time and underscore the challenges faced by tea importers in Thailand.

Where Does Thailand Import Its Tea (2021)

ContinentCountryTrade Value
AfricaCameroon42
AfricaKenya3,602
AfricaMorocco3
AfricaNigeria120
AfricaUganda8
AfricaSouth Africa972
AsiaUnited Arab Emirates1,431,594
AsiaBhutan7,604
AsiaChina25,241,755
AsiaHong Kong519
AsiaIndonesia3,539,410
AsiaIndia224,892
AsiaIsrael509
AsiaJapan4,224,878
AsiaSouth Korea40,128
AsiaLaos1,852,400
AsiaSri Lanka662,635
AsiaMaldives77
AsiaBurma246,279
AsiaMongolia34
AsiaMalaysia2,394,858
AsiaNepal19
AsiaPhilippines39
AsiaSingapore375,236
AsiaTurkey328
AsiaVietnam2,711,384
AsiaChinese Taipei883,872
EuropeBulgaria25
EuropeGermany56,078
EuropeDenmark7
EuropeSpain474
EuropeFrance35,145
EuropeUnited Kingdom186,726
EuropeGreece209
EuropeHungary181
EuropeIreland91
EuropeItaly4,190
EuropeNetherlands22,286
EuropePoland372,737
EuropeRomania95
EuropeRussia5,075
EuropeSweden515
North AmericaCanada4,560
North AmericaUnited States192,143
OceaniaAustralia10,569
OceaniaNew Zealand37
South AmericaArgentina693
South AmericaBrazil4,868
South AmericaEcuador47
South AmericaParaguay35
South AmericaUruguay226

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

Vietnam tea has consistently been a popular and trustworthy choice for Thailand, thanks to its premium quality and competitive pricing. In 2021, Thailand imported tea from Vietnam with a total value of $2,711,384, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam holds a significant position as an important supplier of tea to Thailand, catering to its tea requirements effectively.

Conclusion

Thailand’s tea trade showcases its robust presence in both the export and import sectors. As an exporter, Thailand supplies tea to markets including Laos, the United States, China, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Simultaneously, as an importer, Thailand sources its tea primarily from China, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The growth in export and import markets highlights Thailand’s commitment to diversification, exploring emerging markets, and catering to the diverse demands of tea consumers. While tariff rates have been a significant factor for tea imports in the past, the evolving trade landscape presents opportunities for collaboration and potential tariff adjustments. Thailand’s tea trade continues to evolve, with tea enthusiasts and industry stakeholders eagerly watching its trajectory in the global market.

Data: BACI

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