Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and its production covers vast areas. In the international market, some countries lead in volume and market share, while others stand out for growth rates or specialized segments.
According to the International Tea Committee, in 2024 the total global tea production reached approximately 7.05 million tons. Nearly half of this volume — 3.74 million tons — comes from China.
Apart from China, India also plays a major role in the tea market, producing 1.28 million tons. Kenya ranks third, producing around 0.6 million tons.
The top 5 also include Turkey (0.27 million tons) and Sri Lanka (0.26 million tons). Leading producers also include Vietnam, Indonesia, and Japan.
In Uzbekistan, the main part of the tea market is supplied through imports. Local industry mainly focuses on blending, processing, and packaging imported leaves. Projects for local tea cultivation exist, but they have not yet reached large-scale production — mostly experimental and planning stages.
In 2024, Uzbekistan imported 33,378 tons of tea worth $50.6 million. Main suppliers: China (26,806 t), Kenya (1,651 t), Iran (1,271 t), India (965 t), and Russia (578 t). From January to November, imports totaled 30,204 tons ($45.2 million), indicating that most consumed tea in Uzbekistan comes from abroad.
Previously, in 2018, plans were announced to establish tea plantations covering 283 hectares, aiming for 189 tons of annual production by 2025. In 2022, some Japanese tea varieties were tested under Uzbek conditions with plans to establish fields in mountainous and foothill regions.
Russia is among the world leaders in tea consumption, but lags behind in production. For example, in 2024, Russia produced only 113 thousand tons of tea, mostly from processed imported leaves. In the Krasnodar region, 373 tons of tea were harvested.
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