Bulk black tea imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of bulk black tea by the United States reached $179.9 million in 2024 (87.3 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 6th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 210 countries. That is 17% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $179.9M | 87.3K t |
| 2023 | $153.8M | 74.8K t |
| 2022 | $174.8M | 85.1K t |
| 2021 | $164.1M | 82.0K t |
| 2020 | $154.6M | 74.5K t |
| 2019 | $177.7M | 86.3K t |
| 2018 | $183.4M | 87.0K t |
| 2017 | $196.9M | 95.3K t |
Where the United States imports bulk black tea from
The largest suppliers were Argentina (32%), India (19%), China (9%). Among the main suppliers, Vietnam grew fastest (+43% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | $57.5M | 32% |
| India | $34.8M | 19% |
| China | $16.1M | 9% |
| Germany | $12.5M | 7% |
| Sri Lanka | $10.4M | 5.8% |
| Malawi | $9.7M | 5.4% |
| Vietnam | $8.7M | 4.8% |
| Indonesia | $4.4M | 2.5% |
| Pakistan | $4.4M | 2.5% |
| Kenya | $4.3M | 2.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.06 per kg, 22% 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 the United States
In 2024, the United States exported bulk black tea worth $11.7 million (2.6 thousand tonnes). Canada alone took 51% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Philippines grew fastest (+531% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $5.9M | 51% |
| Denmark | $1.5M | 13% |
| South Korea | $517K | 4.4% |
| Philippines | $316K | 2.7% |
| Mexico | $316K | 2.7% |
| Bahamas | $305K | 2.6% |
| United Kingdom | $293K | 2.5% |
| Guyana | $230K | 2% |
| Colombia | $200K | 1.7% |
| Barbados | $174K | 1.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 the United States?
The United States imported bulk black tea worth $179.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 87.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 6th of 210 countries worldwide, with 5% of world imports. The value was up 17% on 2023.
Which countries supply bulk black tea to the United States?
Argentina was the largest supplier with 32% of the value ($57.5 million), followed by India (19%) and China (9%). The top three together account for 60%, out of 78 supplier countries in total. Vietnam grew fastest among the top ten, up 43% on the year.
What is the average import price of bulk black tea per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.06 per kg in 2024, 22% below the world average of $2.63 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of bulk black tea to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $196.9 million in 2017 to $179.9 million in 2024, a fall of 9%. The peak was 2017 at $196.9 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does the United States also export bulk black tea?
Yes. The United States exported $11.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Canada, Denmark and South Korea. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $168.2 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?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, so you can see importers and exporters by name with dates, quantities and declared values. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
More trade data for the United States
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.