KARACHI: Pakistan’s overall tea imports dropped 46% per cent to $28.19 million in February 2023 compared with imports of 49.19 million in January 2023.
Black tea imports in February stood at $27.7 million, while green tea imports remained at 0.492 million. Similarly, in January 2023, black tea imports in January 2023 stood at $48.5 million and green tea import stood at $0.68 million.
Kenya remained the largest tea exporter to Pakistan providing $42.8 million worth of tea in January. Tea import from Kenya during February 2023 stood at $22.3 million.
Pakistan is one of the largest importers of tea in the world. According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan imported around 170,830 metric tons of tea in 2020. This represents a slight decrease from the previous year, when Pakistan imported around 181,520 metric tons of tea.
The largest sources of Pakistan’s tea imports are Kenya, followed by Sri Lanka, and then India. These three countries together account for the vast majority of Pakistan’s tea imports.
Pakistan is a significant market for tea due to the country’s large population and its cultural and social affinity for tea. Tea is a popular beverage in Pakistan and is consumed throughout the day, with chai dhabas (tea stalls) being a common sight on streets and roadsides. The demand for tea is expected to remain strong in Pakistan in the coming years, and tea imports are likely to continue to play an important role in meeting this demand.