China's tea exports see volume dip but value rise in H1, high-end teas gain traction

China's tea export volume dipped slightly year on year in the first half of 2026, while export value and average price rose. The shift was mainly driven by shrinking orders for low-end bulk raw material, while some high-end specialty teas saw orders remain steady or even increase, reflecting growing demand for higher-quality tea.^[1]

Guizhou was highlighted as a typical region, with indicators such as black tea output and export average price, and matcha production and sales drawing attention. Europe and North America were listed as main demand directions, showing the potential of Chinese high-end tea in international markets.^[1]