Bulk black tea imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of bulk black tea by South Africa reached $33.4 million in 2024 (19.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 5% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $48.7 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33.4M | 19.3K t |
| 2023 | $32.6M | 19.1K t |
| 2022 | $33.6M | 19.2K t |
| 2021 | $34.0M | 20.3K t |
| 2020 | $36.7M | 22.4K t |
| 2019 | $36.9M | 20.9K t |
| 2018 | $41.3M | 21.3K t |
| 2017 | $48.7M | 26.4K t |
Where South Africa imports bulk black tea from
The largest suppliers were Malawi (41%), Zimbabwe (21%), Sri Lanka (19%). Among the main suppliers, Kenya grew fastest (+35% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | $13.8M | 41% |
| Zimbabwe | $7.0M | 21% |
| Sri Lanka | $6.3M | 19% |
| Tanzania | $3.8M | 12% |
| Kenya | $2.2M | 6.7% |
| Switzerland | $124K | 0.4% |
| India | $47K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $30K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $18K | 0.1% |
| Netherlands | $17K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.73 per kg, 34% below the world average of $2.63, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Bulk black tea exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported bulk black tea worth $8.6 million (2.2 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to United Kingdom (33%), Namibia (26%), Mozambique (6%). Among the main buyer markets, Mozambique grew fastest (+700% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $2.9M | 33% |
| Namibia | $2.3M | 26% |
| Mozambique | $550K | 6.4% |
| Zimbabwe | $516K | 6% |
| Eswatini | $478K | 5.6% |
| Botswana | $449K | 5.2% |
| Lesotho | $353K | 4.1% |
| Zambia | $323K | 3.8% |
| Switzerland | $124K | 1.4% |
| DR Congo | $112K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa bulk black tea imports (HS 0902.40): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 0902.40: Tea, black: (fermented) and partly fermented tea, in immediate packings of a content exceeding 3kg.
Common questions
What is the value of bulk black tea imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported bulk black tea worth $33.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 19.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 23rd of 210 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply bulk black tea to South Africa?
Malawi was the largest supplier with 41% of the value ($13.8 million), followed by Zimbabwe (21%) and Sri Lanka (19%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 49 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 122% on the year.
What is the average import price of bulk black tea per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.73 per kg in 2024, 34% below the world average of $2.63 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of bulk black tea to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $48.7 million in 2017 to $33.4 million in 2024, a fall of 31%. The peak was 2017 at $48.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $37.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export bulk black tea?
Yes. South Africa exported $8.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United Kingdom, Namibia and Mozambique. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $24.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for bulk black tea?
The HS code for bulk black tea is subheading 0902.40. It sits in HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea, mate and spices). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0902 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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