Tea leaves production in China
In 2024 China produced 16.3 million t of tea leaves, the largest total in the world (49.7% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 71%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 3.6 million ha, yield 4.5 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 16.3 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 46
- 10-year change
- +71%
- Record
- 16.3 million t
- 2024
Tea leaves in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 49.7%
- 39.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 4.5
- world 5.9 (−24%)
- kg per person
- 11.5
- world 4.01
- 10-year change
- +71%
- world +37%
Position in the world ranking
Map of world production of tea leaves
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,260,900 | +5.6% | 3,631,693 | 4.48 |
| 2023 | 15,396,000 | +6.0% | 3,429,950 | 4.49 |
| 2022 | 14,530,800 | +2.3% | 3,392,710 | 4.28 |
| 2021 | 14,200,000 | +7.6% | 2,701,620 | 5.26 |
| 2020 | 13,200,000 | +4.8% | 3,216,660 | 4.10 |
| 2019 | 12,600,000 | +6.8% | 3,185,311 | 3.96 |
| 2018 | 11,800,000 | +6.3% | 2,985,800 | 3.95 |
| 2017 | 11,100,000 | +5.9% | 2,848,720 | 3.90 |
| 2016 | 10,480,000 | +1.6% | 2,380,197 | 4.40 |
| 2015 | 10,320,000 | +8.6% | 2,115,800 | 4.88 |
| 2014 | 9,500,000 | +9.2% | 1,984,229 | 4.79 |
| 2013 | 8,700,000 | +7.4% | 1,857,200 | 4.68 |
| 2012 | 8,100,000 | +9.5% | 1,735,200 | 4.67 |
| 2011 | 7,400,000 | +12% | 1,644,660 | 4.50 |
| 2010 | 6,600,000 | +12% | 1,426,060 | 4.63 |
| 2009 | 5,909,000 | +8.1% | 1,327,980 | 4.45 |
| 2008 | 5,468,000 | +7.9% | 1,283,200 | 4.26 |
| 2007 | 5,067,000 | +13% | 1,200,850 | 4.22 |
| 2006 | 4,470,000 | +10.0% | 1,100,300 | 4.06 |
| 2005 | 4,065,000 | +12% | 1,041,500 | 3.90 |
| 2004 | 3,631,000 | +8.7% | 982,700 | 3.69 |
| 2003 | 3,340,000 | +3.1% | 925,200 | 3.61 |
| 2002 | 3,241,000 | +6.2% | 894,800 | 3.62 |
| 2001 | 3,051,000 | +2.7% | 887,760 | 3.44 |
| 2000 | 2,971,000 | +1.1% | 879,500 | 3.38 |
| 1999 | 2,939,000 | +1.7% | 909,400 | 3.23 |
| 1998 | 2,891,000 | +8.4% | 859,690 | 3.36 |
| 1997 | 2,667,000 | +3.4% | 868,950 | 3.07 |
| 1996 | 2,580,000 | +0.8% | 871,480 | 2.96 |
| 1995 | 2,559,000 | +0.0% | 868,200 | 2.95 |
| 1994 | 2,558,500 | −1.9% | 884,000 | 2.89 |
| 1993 | 2,609,000 | +7.2% | 879,600 | 2.97 |
| 1992 | 2,434,000 | +3.4% | 840,300 | 2.90 |
| 1991 | 2,354,700 | +336% | 829,000 | 2.84 |
| 1990 | 540,070 | +1.0% | 820,000 | 0.66 |
| 1989 | 534,876 | −1.9% | 825,000 | 0.65 |
| 1988 | 545,416 | +7.2% | 820,000 | 0.67 |
| 1987 | 509,000 | +11% | 810,000 | 0.63 |
| 1986 | 460,468 | +6.5% | 795,000 | 0.58 |
| 1985 | 432,337 | +4.4% | 810,000 | 0.53 |
| 1984 | 414,000 | +3.4% | 1,077,400 | 0.38 |
| 1983 | 400,550 | +0.9% | 1,104,733 | 0.36 |
| 1982 | 397,000 | +16% | 1,097,000 | 0.36 |
| 1981 | 343,000 | +13% | 1,061,000 | 0.32 |
| 1980 | 304,000 | +9.7% | 1,041,000 | 0.29 |
| 1979 | 277,100 | +3.4% | 1,050,600 | 0.26 |
| 1978 | 268,000 | +6.3% | 1,047,700 | 0.26 |
| 1977 | 252,100 | +8.0% | 1,014,100 | 0.25 |
| 1976 | 233,500 | +11% | 962,900 | 0.24 |
| 1975 | 211,000 | +6.6% | 900,000 | 0.23 |
| 1974 | 198,000 | +8.8% | 800,000 | 0.25 |
| 1973 | 182,000 | +7.1% | 700,000 | 0.26 |
| 1972 | 170,000 | +11% | 600,000 | 0.28 |
| 1971 | 153,000 | +13% | 550,000 | 0.28 |
| 1970 | 136,000 | +11% | 486,000 | 0.28 |
| 1969 | 122,000 | +3.4% | 440,000 | 0.28 |
| 1968 | 118,000 | +4.4% | 410,000 | 0.29 |
| 1967 | 113,000 | +6.6% | 380,000 | 0.30 |
| 1966 | 106,000 | +5.4% | 340,000 | 0.31 |
| 1965 | 100,600 | +9.3% | 335,000 | 0.30 |
| 1964 | 92,000 | +9.5% | 330,000 | 0.28 |
| 1963 | 84,000 | +14% | 320,000 | 0.26 |
| 1962 | 74,000 | −6.3% | 315,000 | 0.23 |
| 1961 | 79,000 | — | 310,000 | 0.25 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 374,122 t USD 1.42 bn
- Exporter rank
- 2 of 143
- Imports
- 53,977 t USD 157 m
- Importer rank
- 10 of 191
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of tea leaves in China?
China produced 16.3 million t in 2024, 49.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of tea leaves?
China was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of India.
How has the production of tea leaves in China changed?
It rose by 71% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +37% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of tea leaves in China?
4.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (16.3 million t from 3.6 million ha), against a world average of 5.9 t/ha.
Does China export or import tea leaves?
In 2024 China reported exports of 374,122 t (USD 1.42 bn) and imports of 53,977 t (USD 157 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.