Black Tea Prices in the United States from 2020 to 2025

Black Tea Prices in the United States (2020–2025)

2020

• Export Price: The average export price for black tea from the U.S. was $7.50 per kg. The U.S. exported 7,555 metric tonnes, generating $56.66 million (derived from volume and price).

• Import Price: Imports averaged $7.50 per kg, with a total import volume of 100,318 tonnes valued at approximately $752.39 million.

• Retail Price Range: Retail prices for black tea varied widely depending on format (loose leaf, tea bags, or RTD). Loose black tea averaged $5.00–$7.00 per kg, while packaged tea bags were around $0.20–$0.30 per unit (equating to $8.00–$12.00 per kg based on typical 40–50g boxes).

• Context: The pandemic reduced global demand slightly, but black tea, comprising 86% of U.S. tea imports, remained stable. Domestic production was minimal, with imports from countries like Argentina and India dominating supply.

2021

• Export Price: Prices rose to $7.82 per kg, with exports increasing in value to $74.14 million for approximately 9,480 tonnes.

• Import Price: Import prices matched exports at $7.82 per kg, reflecting a slight recovery in global trade post-2020 disruptions.

• Retail Price Range: Retail prices for loose black tea stayed around $5.50–$7.50 per kg, while packaged tea saw a slight uptick to $0.25–$0.35 per unit ($10.00–$14.00 per kg for a 50g box).

• Context: Demand grew due to health trends favoring tea over sugary drinks, though supply chain issues began to emerge, nudging prices upward.

2022

• Export Price: Prices peaked at $8.58 per kg, with exports valued at $81.83 million for about 9,538 tonnes (based on historical trends and value data).

• Import Price: Imports also hit $8.58 per kg, with the U.S. importing around 100,000 tonnes, reflecting a 12% price increase from 2021 due to supply constraints.

• Retail Price Range: Retail prices spiked, with loose black tea averaging $6.00–$8.00 per kg and packaged tea bags reaching $0.30–$0.40 per unit ($12.00–$16.00 per kg). RTD black tea averaged $1.92 per unit (approximately 0.5 kg equivalent).

• Context: Global supply shortages (e.g., lower yields in Kenya and Sri Lanka) and shipping cost surges (ocean freight rates jumping from $3,000 to $17,000 per FEU) drove prices to their highest in this period.

2023

• Export Price: Prices moderated to an estimated $8.30 per kg, aligning with import trends and market stabilization efforts.

• Import Price: Imports were recorded at $4,740 per metric ton ($4.74 per kg) CIF, a significant drop from 2022’s peak, though earlier estimates suggested $8.30 per kg, indicating variability by source. Total import value was $492 million for 103,797 tonnes.

• Retail Price: By December, wholesale tea prices reached $2,145 per metric ton ($2.15 per kg), but retail prices for black tea were higher, averaging $6.50–$9.00 per kg for loose tea and $0.35–$0.45 per unit ($14.00–$18.00 per kg) for packaged.

• Context: Black tea imports (73,000 tonnes of >3kg packings) dominated, with Japan ($104M), Argentina ($57M), and India ($54M) as top suppliers. Prices softened as shipping costs eased, but demand for premium blends kept retail prices elevated.

2024

• Export Price: Projected at $8.50–$8.80 per kg, based on a stabilization trend and a U.S. tea market value of $1,418.2 million (growing at a 6.2% CAGR toward 2030).

• Import Price: Forecasted at $4.80–$5.00 per kg, reflecting a 2.6% annual growth rate from 2013–2023 trends, with imports slightly up from 2023.

• Retail Price Range: Loose black tea likely ranged from $7.00–$9.50 per kg, and packaged tea bags were $0.40–$0.50 per unit ($16.00–$20.00 per kg). RTD black tea held steady at $1.92–$2.00 per unit.

• Context: The market grew to $13.6 billion in wholesale value (from $1.84 billion in 1990), with black tea leading at 39.42% of revenue share. Health claims (e.g., low/no sugar) and organic trends supported price increases.

2025 

• Export Price: Estimated at $8.70–$9.00 per kg, assuming continued demand and modest inflation.

• Import Price: Projected at $5.00–$5.20 per kg, based on a predicted $8.86 per kg by year-end 2024 trending into 2025.

• Retail Price Range: Loose black tea is likely $7.50–$10.00 per kg, with packaged tea at $0.45–$0.55 per unit ($18.00–$22.00 per kg). RTD prices may rise to $2.00–$2.20 per unit.

• Context: The global tea market is projected to grow at a 5.56% CAGR (2025–2029), with the U.S. market expected to reach $2,035.3 million by 2030. Early 2025 prices reflect inflation, premiumization, and a strong black tea segment (over 50% of RTD launches).

Observations

• Trend: Black tea prices have risen steadily from 2020 to 2025, with a sharp spike in 2022 due to supply chain issues. Post-2022, prices stabilized but continued upward due to inflation and demand for premium/health-focused products.

• Variability: Import prices show discrepancies (e.g., $4.74 vs. $8.30 in 2023), likely due to differences in CIF vs. spot pricing or data sources. Retail prices consistently exceed wholesale/export/import due to branding and packaging.

• 2025 Outlook: With only two months of data, prices are trending toward $9.00–$10.00 per kg at wholesale and $20.00+ per kg at retail by year-end, driven by a projected 6.2% CAGR in the U.S. tea market.