Vietnam grows tea in the northern mountains and the central highlands, and it ranks among the top ten tea exporters in the world, with roughly 370 companies selling to 74 countries and territories. Unlike coffee, rice or pepper, tea is a product where Vietnam sells a lot of volume at a modest price. In the first ten months of 2025 it shipped more than 109,000 tonnes worth about US$188 million, an average of about US$1,725 per tonne, which is roughly two thirds of the global average.
For tea importers, blenders and packers, that price gap is the opportunity, and for analysts it is the story: volumes are falling while buyers slowly shift. This guide covers HS code 0902, black and green tea, the main buyers, how to read grade terms and how to find exporters using Vietnam tea export data.
Vietnam Tea Exports: Key Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Tea exported | Over 109,000 tonnes, about US$188 million (down about 10% in volume and 11% in value) | January to October 2025 |
| Average export price | About US$1,723 to 1,725 per tonne, down about 1% | January to October 2025 |
| Tea exported | About 121,000 tonnes, US$211 million | Full year 2023 |
| Tea exported | About 146,000 tonnes, US$237 million | Full year 2022 |
| Tea exported | About 43,200 tonnes, US$74.7 million (down 7.1% in volume, 2.5% in value) | January to May 2026 |
| Average export price | About US$1,730 per tonne, up 4.9% | January to May 2026 |
Prices have stayed flat to slightly higher while volumes have dropped, which means value has fallen along with volume. Industry reports note that a large share of Vietnamese tea is sold as raw or semi-processed leaf, which keeps the average price low. Adding value through packing, blending and branding is the main goal for exporters.
HS Code 0902: What It Covers
All true tea sits in HS heading 0902. The 6-digit codes depend on whether the tea is green or black and whether it is in small retail packs or in bulk.
| HS code | What it covers | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| 0902.10 | Green tea in packs of 3 kg or less | Retail green tea, tea bags, jasmine tea in small packs |
| 0902.20 | Green tea in bulk (packs over 3 kg) | Bulk green tea, jasmine and lotus-scented tea |
| 0902.30 | Black and partly fermented tea in packs of 3 kg or less | Retail black tea, oolong in small packs |
| 0902.40 | Black and partly fermented tea in bulk | CTC, OP, BOP and other bulk black tea |
| 2101.20 | Extracts and preparations based on tea | Instant tea, tea concentrates |
| 2202 | Non-alcoholic beverages | Ready-to-drink tea |
The bulk codes, 0902.20 and 0902.40, are where most of Vietnam's volume sits. If you want branded or packed tea, search 0902.10 and 0902.30.
Who Buys Vietnamese Tea
Pakistan has been Vietnam's largest tea buyer for years, with about 41% of export value in the first ten months of 2025. Taiwan follows at about 11.5% and China at about 9.2%, then Russia, the United States and Indonesia. Exports to Pakistan have been falling because of its unstable economy, while shipments to Taiwan and China edged up in 2025 and exports to Thailand jumped about 72% in value in the first nine months.
| Market | Share of 2025 value (Jan to Oct) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | About 41.2% | Largest buyer of black tea, volumes under pressure |
| Taiwan | About 11.5% | Buys jasmine, green and oolong teas; volumes up about 3% |
| China | About 9.2% | Third largest, volumes up about 3% |
| Russia | Traditional buyer | Black tea, sensitive to economic swings |
| United States | Smaller but growing in value | Packed and specialty teas |
| Thailand | Small, fast-growing | Value up about 72% in nine months |
The Shift in 2026
The market order changed in early 2026. In the first five months, Taiwan became the largest tea buyer, ahead of China, while Pakistan continued to decline. The United States and Russia both grew in value.
| Market | Jan to May 2026 volume | Value | Change in value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | About 4,800 tonnes | About US$9.2 million (US$1,912 per tonne) | Up about 17% |
| China | About 4,400 tonnes | About US$6.8 million | Down about 14% |
| Russia | About 2,800 tonnes | About US$4.8 million | Up about 2.7% |
| United States | About 2,800 tonnes | About US$4.7 million | Up about 14.5% |
Black Tea vs Green Tea
| Feature | Black tea | Green tea |
|---|---|---|
| Share of exports | Historically the largest part, roughly three quarters of volume | The second largest and the main focus of value-adding |
| Typical buyers | Pakistan, Russia, Middle East | Taiwan, China, United States, Thailand |
| Main growing areas | Central Highlands, such as Lam Dong, and northern provinces | Northern mountains, such as Thai Nguyen, and Ha Giang |
| Common bulk code | 0902.40 | 0902.20 |
| Price level | Lower, commodity-style | Higher for jasmine, lotus and specialty teas |
Reading Tea Terms in a Shipment Record
| Term in the record | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| CTC | Crush, tear, curl, a machine process for strong black tea | Used in tea bags and mass-market blends |
| OP, BOP, FBOP | Orange pekoe and broken grades of black tea leaf | Grade sets leaf size and price |
| Dust, fannings | Smallest broken grades | Lowest price, used in tea bags |
| Jasmine, lotus | Green tea scented with flowers | Higher price, popular in Taiwan and China |
| Shan Tuyet | Tea from old mountain trees in the north | Specialty price |
| Oolong | Partly fermented tea | Falls under the black and partly fermented codes |
| Bulk, 25 kg bags | Packing format | Wholesale buyers versus retail packs |
How to Find Tea Exporters in the Records
- Search HS 0902 for the last 12 months and choose bulk or packed codes.
- Filter by type with words such as "black tea", "green tea", "jasmine", "lotus" or "CTC".
- Group by exporter and rank by tonnes and value.
- Check the buyers. Exporters selling to Taiwan, the United States or Europe often make a higher grade than those selling only to Pakistan.
- Compare price per tonne for the same type, grade and packing.
- Verify the company using our guide on checking a supplier before you contact them.
What to Watch in 2026
- Market diversification: Taiwan, Russia, the United States and the Philippines are growing while Pakistan and China weaken.
- Higher prices per tonne: the average price rose about 5% in early 2026, a sign of better product mix.
- Value-added tea: more packed, flavoured and branded products, instead of raw leaf.
- Volume pressure: total volumes are still falling, so only competitive exporters will grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for tea?
Tea is classified under HS heading 0902. Bulk green tea is 0902.20 and bulk black tea is 0902.40.
How much tea does Vietnam export?
Over 109,000 tonnes worth about US$188 million in the first ten months of 2025, and about 121,000 tonnes worth US$211 million in all of 2023.
Who is the biggest buyer of Vietnamese tea?
Pakistan, with about 41% of export value in 2025, though Taiwan took the lead in early 2026.
Is Vietnamese tea cheap?
The average export price of about US$1,725 per tonne is roughly two thirds of the global average, because much of it is sold in bulk or raw form.
Search Tea Export Data
Ready to build a list of tea exporters? Open Vietnam tea export data to search HS 0902 by exporter, buyer, type and price per tonne. If you need help matching a tea type to the right record, send us an enquiry.
Disclaimer: Vietnam Import Export Data provides shipment records and trade datasets. We do not buy or sell any products. For purchasing or selling enquiries, please contact the importers and exporters listed in our datasets.
