EXPORT AND IMPORT OF TEA IN CHINA AND USA

WHEN

Export

Import

Export

Import

(S.L.) China
exported tea as
early as the Tang
Dynasty (618
C.E.) because Lu
Yu (Buddhist
monk) wrote a
book stating the
health benefits of
drinking tea.
Thus everyone
began
consuming tea.
The trade is still
thriving today in
the 21st century.

Chinese Tea has

gone international
for several centuries
dating back as far as
the mid-16th century
when European
explorers and
missionaries landed
in China.

America is not
known for its
tea exports
because the
greatest tea
exporters are
mostly in others
countries like
Vietnam, China,
Russia, and the
United
Kingdom.
America is not a
great competitor
in the tea
market,
currently net
export is -3. It is
more well
known for
machinery and
aircraft exports.

R.H
Tea is the second
most widely
consumed
beverage
worldwide,
following only
water. China, India,
Kenya, Sri Lanka,
and Indonesia
ranged among the
main tea producers
in 2014, based on
production volume.
Total wholesale tea
sales were
estimated to
amount to 10.84
billion U.S. dollars
in 2014.
Americans prefer
to drink their tea
iced when they
consume it out of
home. The per
capita consumption
of tea amounted to
8.9 gallons in
2012, up from 7.8
gallons per capita
in 2000.

America
exports its
aircraft and
machinery to
countries like
Canada and
Mexico.

R.H
From
China
India

The Dutch began

importing tea from
China in 1610 with
the Portuguese
following closely
behind. Chinese Tea
became popular with
the Dutch and
Portuguese
aristocrats by 1640.

WHERE

(S.L.) In the
early days,
Chinese traded
tea in the Silk
Road (618 CE).
Japan, Britain,
America,

European countries,
United States, Great
Britain

WHO

(S.L.) China Tea

Company (one
of the old tea
company in
China), AHCOF
International
Development
Company,
Zhengjiang
Wafa, and Hunan
Tea Company all
export tea from
China.

Aristocrats: Chinese
Tea was expensive
back those days and
only the wealthy
could afford to drink
it. (back then)
Consumers
(Big companies
rarely import, they
export more often)\
China Tea Company
Zhenjiang

Tea is usually
R.H
affordable
Consumers, normal
depending on
what kind of tea people
leaves and
where it is
imported from.
Tea is available
for everyone
and is in high
demand and
there are over
100,000 tons of
tea imported
every year.

WHAT

(S.L.) China
Darjeeling Tea
most popular tea Indian Tea
export is green
tea, which
consisted 80% of
the export in
2014. Other teas
include black,
white, yellow,
oolong, and postfermented tea.

America does
not export tea
but they are one
of the greatest
importers of tea.
Over $300
million worth of
tea is imported
into US every
year.

R.H
The tea market
comprises four
broad segments:
ready-to-drink tea
(RTD), the
traditional market,
the specialty
segment and the
foodservice
segment. The RTD
category continues
to be the largest
market segment.

HOW

Chinas green tea

are made in Tea
factories and are
exported through
their ports,
usually by sea to
other countries.
As of 2015,
China export up
to 90% of their
tea production

US is not a top
contender for
tea exports. Tea
imports and
goods require
approval within
trade barriers
and legal
administrators.

US Import tea and

other goods
internationally
through Foreign
Trade Zones. There
are teas that
directly get
imported into the
country. Imports
between Chinas
Tea business

China doesnt import

much tea from
international
countries. It can be
assumed that they
import their tea
mainly through cargo
ships.

into other
countries.

exporters and
businesses require
approval from the
FDA.

Sources:
1. Johnson, D. (n.d.). History of Tea. Retrieved February 25, 2016, from
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tea1.html
2. Topic: Tea Market. (2013). Retrieved February 26, 2016, from
http://www.statista.com/topics/1513/tea-market/
3. Kotaro, Tanimoto (n.d). Teach me Tea. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from http://www.ocha.net/english/teacha/detail_e.asp?id=74
4. Chinese Business (n.d). Import from China. Retrieved March 1, 2016 from
http://www.import-from-china-business.com/import-into-us-process.html
5. How, Wiki (2016). Import from China Teas Info USA. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from
http://www.wikihow.com/Import-China-Teas-Into-USA
5. Beesley, Caron (2012). Importing Goods Us Introductory Guide Small Business
Owners. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from https://www.sba.gov/blogs/importing-goods-usintroductory-guide-small-business-owners
6. Economic Times (2005). Tea Planters Sri Lan Kan Tea. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-04-03/news/27505158_1_tea-planters-srilankan-tea-tea-board
7. Chinese Business (n.d). Import. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from
http://www.import-from-china-business.com/chinese-tea.html
8. Economic Times (2005). Green Tea, Black Tea, Kenyan Tea. Retrieved March 1, 2016,
from
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-13/news/39228409_1_green-tea-blacktea-kenyan-tea
Sandy Leung
I am the recorder. I research on the export of tea in China. I found out that 80% of the tea China
export is green tea in 2014. Other teas include black, white, yellow, oolong, and post-fermented

tea. Tea is considered one of the seven necessities and the Chinese have started trading it as early
as the Tang Dynasty. Majority of the trade started at the Silk Road. The companies that
manufacture the teas include: China Tea Company (one of the old tea company in China),
AHCOF International Development Company, Zhengjiang Wafa, and Hunan Tea Company all
export tea from China.
Rong Rong Huang
I am the time keeper. I helped my team to keep track of the time, so they can keep track of their
role and duties. I researched about the US import of tea. I found out the US is one of the biggest
importer of tea in the market. Total wholesale tea sales were estimated to amount to 10.84 billion
U.S. dollars in 2014. There are also four main uses in the tea market: (RTD), the traditional
market, the specialty segment and the foodservice segment. The RTD category continues to be
the largest market segment.
Tina Huang
I am the reporter. I help everyone communicate among the research and make sure everyone is
doing their work. My part of the work was to search on the exports of America. Because America
is not an exporter of tea, it gets most of its tea import of China. America is one of the largest
consumers of tea, especially after the popularization usage of the tea bags. As of 2014, the
United States is reported to have imported a total of 116,746 metric tonnes of tea every year to
supply its demand, and also as part of the tea bag packaging industry. About $318,535,000 worth
of tea is brought in every year.
Angela Wong
I am the facilitator. I researched on the import of tea in China. China does not import tea that
often as they are the biggest exporter for tea. The big companies such as China Tea company
and Zhengjian Wafa exports and import teas from various locations. In the recent news, China
have been importing darjeeling tea and indian tea more often. As of 2015, they ordered at least
20,000 grams of darjeeling tea for the consumers, they were quickly sold out. The first ranking of
imported tea is darjeeling tea and the second is Indian Tea. They are both quickly being popular
within China. The total wholesale tea sales were estimated to be around 10.84 billion U.S dollars
around 2014. They export 90% of their tea while the remaining 10% stays within China to be
sold to their own consumers.
Wilson Tran
I am a random. I learned from this research that China exports a large amount of tea (up to 90%)
that they manufacture. China has the largest population in the world and despite that fact they
make enough tea for the population through 10% of their manufactures. I was not surprised to
see that US was not a big contender for tea imports nor exports. The main method that tea is
transported from and into china is by cargo ships. Processing and importing tea actually requires
maintenance as the tea has to be looked over and regulated through the Foreign Trade Ports to

ensure its safety for use. The FDA regulates the safety of tea contents that would be imported
into the US.