Tea · importers
The United Kingdom reports $2.2B in the chapter that holds tea, coffee, mate and spices, eighth in the world, and few countries are more closely linked to tea drinking.
| Market | HS 09 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $11.7B |
| Germany | $6.5B |
| France | $4.0B |
| Italy | $3.4B |
| Canada | $2.4B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea, mate and spices); tea is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Tea has a long history in British life, and everyday black tea in bags remains a staple. Yet the chapter also holds coffee, which is a large trade, so the $2.2B cannot be read as a tea figure. The UK holds 3.3% of reported world imports, level with Spain and Japan, and the chapter is 0.3% of its $813.3B imports, ranking 50th among import chapters.
British packers and brand owners blend black teas from several origins to a fixed taste, and buy in bulk, mainly for tea bags. Large retailers also sell own-label tea and expect supplier audits and ethical-sourcing evidence. A smaller specialist trade serves speciality, herbal and flavoured teas.
Ask whether the buyer is a brand owner, a private-label packer or a specialist, since each expects different volumes and paperwork. Ask also about ethical-sourcing credentials that retail customers require, since a buyer may only be able to list tea from estates covered by particular audits or certification schemes.
Import procedures and labelling have changed for many foods since 2020, so confirm the present conditions with the authorities and with the buyer, and do not rely on earlier guidance. China, the USA, Germany and France lead the UK’s overall source list, which spans all goods.
Customs shipment data filtered to the tea heading isolates tea from coffee and spices and lists receivers with cargo weights.
Tea shipment records show receivers with weights. Pick your prospects, settle Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port, and open contact through this site’s free marketplace.
No. The chapter also holds coffee, mate and spices, and coffee is a large trade.
Brand owners, private-label packers and specialists in speciality and herbal teas.
Supplier audits and ethical-sourcing evidence for own-label tea.
Filter shipment data to the tea heading and rank consignees by cargo weight.
Keep exploring