Vietnamese tea exports to the United States grew 22% in volume while export turnover surged 36.4% over the first eight months of the year, with green tea prices climbing to USD 3,016 per metric ton.

Customs Department data shows that during the first eight months of the year, Vietnam exported 77,256 tons of tea, generating USD 143.5 million—a 9.8% decline in volume, but only a 1.5% drop in turnover year-on-year.

This performance is closely tied to rising average export price levels. In August, the average tea export price reached USD 2,088 per ton, up nearly 18% compared to the same month last year. For the eight-month period as a whole, prices averaged roughly USD 1,778 per ton, marking a 4.5% increase.

Rising prices amidst declining overall export volumes indicate a deepening polarization across destination markets for Vietnamese tea: while certain markets reduced procurement, destinations that expanded imports delivered substantial contributions to overall turnover. The United States stands out as the most prominent example.

Specifically, over the eight months, Vietnam’s tea shipments to the US generated USD 7.64 million, up 36.4% year-on-year. On average, each ton of tea shipped to this market fetched approximately USD 1,649, an increase of nearly 12% compared to the prior year.

Price momentum was also pronounced across core tea categories. According to International Trade Centre (ITC) data, during the first seven months, the price of Vietnamese green tea exported to the US reached USD 3,016 per ton, surging 31.2% year-on-year. Black tea prices also climbed 13.4% to USD 1,737 per ton.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the rise in export prices comes as global demand pivots toward premium items, specialty processed green teas, and varieties bearing organic and ecological certifications. Higher-value orders—such as oolong and scented teas—are also trending upward, supplanting the historical reliance on exporting raw, bulk ingredients.

This dynamic is not confined to the United States: over the first eight months, Russia increased its import volume of Vietnamese tea by 23%, with turnover expanding 15%, while Saudi Arabia recorded a 27% increase; in August alone, shipment volumes to Saudi Arabia rose 3.4-fold, with value surging more than sixfold.

Conversely, Vietnamese tea experienced sharp drops in Pakistan and select North African markets as demand cooled, while unfavorable weather conditions compromised domestic yields and harvest quality; Pakistan, in particular, was further constrained by financial clearance hurdles and newly instituted Halal regulations.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade, tea demand may rebound during the fourth quarter as the holiday and New Year festival seasons get underway across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Export prices are expected to remain elevated, while deep-processed, specialty, and branded tea lines are poised to sustain their contributions to overall export value.

Source: VnExpress