In the first seven months of 2024, Chinese tea shipments to Russia climbed by 17 percent, reaching 32,804 million dollars, according to data from the State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China and reported by Interfax. This uptick helped Russia secure a place among the five largest importers of Chinese tea during the period, underscoring ongoing demand for Chinese tea in the Russian market despite broader geopolitical pressures. The rise reflects a sustained interest from Russian buyers who value consistency, variety, and competitive pricing in bulk purchases that support both hospitality sectors and consumer markets across the country. Source: State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China via Interfax.
The same period also shows China exporting tea to a wide array of markets. Morocco received 123.5 million dollars, Ghana 95.2 million, Malaysia 53.1 million, and Uzbekistan 30.9 million. These figures illustrate the expansive reach of Chinese tea across diverse regions and highlight China’s role as a major supplier in the global tea trade. The distribution hints at strategic diversification by buyers seeking reliable supply chains and consistent quality standards, whether for domestic consumption or commercial brewing industries. Source: State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China via Interfax.
China itself purchased Russian tea as part of bilateral trade. For the first seven months of 2024, inbound volume was estimated at about 72.0 million dollars, marking a decrease of roughly 24.8 percent from the prior year’s 95.6 million. The shift points to evolving supplier relationships and changing demand patterns within the cross border tea market between the two nations, where price, logistics, and political considerations can influence procurement decisions. Source: State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China via Interfax.
Even amid sanctions, Russian tea exports grew by 11.5 percent from January to May 2024. This expansion was supported by a larger share of trade with friendly countries, rising to 80 percent. State support under the national project International Cooperation and Export helped the St. Petersburg company Medtechnika substantially boost export revenues and broaden its geographic footprint, contributing to a more resilient export profile for Russian tea producers. This trend underscores how targeted policy measures and cooperative trade channels can stabilize flows in a volatile international environment. Source: State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China via Interfax.
Earlier, purchases from Russia by Greece rose sharply, signaling growing interest from this market and indicating a broader diversification of buyers for Russian tea alongside Chinese supply chains and global demand dynamics. The evolving buyer base across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia suggests a complex choreography of procurement decisions driven by price competitiveness, supply reliability, and variety, all of which shape the global tea landscape in the near term. Source: State Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China via Interfax.