India records highest-ever tea exports in 2025 as demand surges 

INDIA – India recorded its highest-ever tea exports in 2025, driven by strong demand from Iran and Iraq and a sharp pickup in shipments to China, according to provisional data from the Tea Board of India. 

Data for the January–December 2025 period shows that India exported 280.40 million kilograms of tea, up from 256.17 million kilograms in the same period of 2024.  

Export earnings also rose significantly to Rs 8,488.43 crore (US$102.3 million), compared with Rs 7,167.41 crore (US$86.4 million) a year earlier. 

“This is the highest level of tea exports recorded by India, and exporters deserve credit for this achievement,” said C. Murugan, Deputy Chairperson of the Tea Board of India. 

Country-wise industry data indicates a sharp increase in offtake from the UAE, Iraq and China, while exports to Russia and the United States declined during the year. 

Mohit Agarwal, Director of Asian Tea Company, said Indian tea exports touched an all-time high of 280 million kilograms in 2025.  

“Led by the Tea Board, merchant exporters took calculated risks by penetrating into the Middle East markets—Iran, Iraq and Turkey—even though the political situation remained volatile,” Agarwal said. 

He added that the growth was largely driven by orthodox tea. “The gain has been in the orthodox exports, CTC exports remaining stagnant. Assam orthodox was a key to this growth,” Agarwal said. 

Exports to Iraq rose to 52.59 million kilograms in 2025 from 40.47 million kilograms in 2024. Shipments to the UAE increased to 50.71 million kilograms from 43.48 million kilograms.  

Direct exports to Iran stood at 11.25 million kilograms, up from 9.25 million kilograms the previous year, although a large share of tea destined for Iran continues to be routed through the UAE, a major re-export hub. 

China emerged as a major surprise market. Indian tea exports to China surged to 16.13 million kilograms in 2025, compared with just 6.24 million kilograms in 2024. 

Murugan said exporters were encouraged to diversify markets after trade disruptions. “When the US imposed reciprocal and punitive tariffs, exporters were urged to tap non-traditional markets. The decline in the US was more than offset by China. Exporters did their research, identified China as an opportunity, and the Chinese embassy was highly proactive,” he said. 

Exports to the US declined to 15.21 million kilograms in 2025 from 17.14 million kilograms in 2024. 

“Even now we are getting a lot of enquiries from China. We will do promotional activities there because it has a huge potential, especially for orthodox tea. We will also urge small growers to switch to orthodox production from CTC,” Murugan said. 

Anshuman Kanoria, Chairman of the Indian Tea Exporters Association, welcomed recent trade developments. “We welcome the historic Indo-US trade deal as it has removed uncertainty among buyers, opening up fresh opportunities for long-term contracts and sustained growth in tea exports,” he said. 

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