VN tea exports run cold, Pakistan market on the boil

Vietnam has shipped more than 115,000 tonnes of tea within the first 10 months of 2013, earning 186.6 million USD, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Vietnam has shipped more than 115,000 tonnes of tea within the first 10 months of 2013, earning 186.6 million USD, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The country's tea exports saw a 5.5 percent decline in terms of volume and a 0.2 percent decrease in value over the same period last year.

Pakistan remained Vietnam's largest tea importer during the period, having purchased over 17,000 tonnes worth 34.6 million USD.

However, the import turnover dropped 11 percent in volume and 18 percent in value compared with the corresponding period last year and accounted for 18.5 percent of the total export value.

China’s Taiwan was the second-largest tea importer, having purchased 19,500 tonnes, valued at 26.5 million USD, an increase of 2 percent and 6 percent in terms of volume and value, respectively.

Russia followed the top two, with 9,800 tonnes, producing turnover of 15.9 million USD.

Tea exports to Poland, the United States and India maintained their growth rate from the same period last year, holding 19 percent, 24.8 percent and 31.1 percent, respectively.

According to the Vietnam Tea Association, Vietnam is currently among the world’s top five tea producers and also the fifth leading tea exporter.

However, some 90 percent of Vietnamese tea was exported in the form of raw materials and only 10 percent left the country as a finished product.-VNA

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