> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/tea/china/

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# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/tea/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 202416.3 million t
World rank1 of 46
10-year change+71%
Record16.3 million t2024

## Tea leaves in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total49.7%39.9% in 2014
Yield, t/ha4.5world 5.9 (−24%)
kg per person11.5world 4.01
10-year change+71%world +37%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **China** | 16,260,900 | 49.7% |
| 2 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/india/) | 6,156,031 | 18.8% |
| 3 | [Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/kenya/) | 2,687,200 | 8.2% |

[Full ranking of 46 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/)

### Map of world production of tea leaves

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
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

Exports374,122 t USD 1.42 bn
Exporter rank2 of 143
Imports53,977 t USD 157 m
Importer rank10 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](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/)

## 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

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/india/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/kenya/)[Sri Lanka](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/sri-lanka/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/turkey/)[Vietnam](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/vietnam/)[Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/indonesia/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/bangladesh/)[Uganda](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/uganda/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/argentina/)[Japan](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/japan/)[Malawi](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/malawi/)[Rwanda](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/rwanda/)
[All countries producing tea leaves](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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