Tea exports jump by 58% in 2024
Tea fetches Tk170-190 per kg at domestic auctions, but export price stands over Tk250
Highlights:
- Tea exports surge by 57.55% in 2024, reaching 2.45 million kgs
- Export income in 2024 reaches Tk45.96 crore
- Export volume recovery follows a previous drop below 1 million kgs
- Average export price per kg falls in 2024 despite higher volume
- Initial 2025 data shows a rebound in average export price per kg
Bangladesh witnessed a significant surge in tea exports in 2024, with volumes increasing by 57.55% or 1.41 million kilograms compared to the previous year.
The nation exported a total of 2.45 million kilograms of tea to various countries, generating an income of Tk45.96 crore in 2024, according to official data. Bangladeshi tea is currently shipped to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, the United States, Singapore, Cyprus, Denmark, France and Spain.
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This marks a notable recovery for the country's tea export sector. While the country exported 10-12 million kilograms of tea annually from 2001 to 2007, this figure subsequently plummeted to below one million kilograms. However, exports have been on an upward trend since 2001.
However, an analysis of export values shows that despite the higher export volume in 2024, the average export price per kilogram fell to Tk187.58, a decrease compared to the Tk250-260 range observed between 2021 and 2023.
The initial data for 2025 suggests a rebound in export earnings. In the first three months of the year, the average export price per kilogram has risen to Tk256.26.
Currently, tea fetches Tk170-190 per kilogram at domestic auctions. Exporters suggest that capitalising on this price difference could yield an additional Tk40-50 per kilogram in export earnings compared to auction prices.
Piyush Dutta, member (research and development) of the Bangladesh Tea Board, told TBS that the board is actively exploring strategies to enhance tea production and quality to further boost exports and secure better prices in the international market.
He expressed optimism for continued progress in tea exports in 2025. The Tea Board has set a production target of 103 million kilograms for 2025, he said.
Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Association, believes that with increased domestic production, Bangladesh has the potential to elevate tea exports from the current 2.5 million kilograms to as much as 10 million kilograms.
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between garden owners and tea traders to achieve this.
Key players in the tea export market include MM Ispahani Limited, Abul Khair Consumer Products Limited, Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Limited, and Halda Valley Tea Estate Limited.
