Tea leaves production in Japan
In 2024 Japan produced 319,300 t of tea leaves, the 11th largest in the world (0.98% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 12%. The record was 438,000 t in 2004. Area harvested: 35,100 ha, yield 9.1 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 319,300 t
- World rank
- 11 of 46
- 10-year change
- −12%
- Record
- 438,000 t
- 2004
Tea leaves in Japan, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Japan compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.98%
- 1.5% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 9.1
- world 5.9 (+54%)
- kg per person
- 2.58
- world 4.01
- 10-year change
- −12%
- world +37%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Uganda | 414,945 | 1.3% |
| 10 | Argentina | 356,753 | 1.1% |
| 11 | Japan | 319,300 | 0.98% |
| 12 | Malawi | 247,670 | 0.76% |
| 13 | Rwanda | 160,592 | 0.49% |
Map of world production of tea leaves
Share of the world total; Japan is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 319,300 | −0.2% | 35,100 | 9.10 |
| 2023 | 320,000 | −3.4% | 36,000 | 8.89 |
| 2022 | 331,100 | −0.3% | 36,900 | 8.97 |
| 2021 | 332,200 | +1.0% | 38,000 | 8.74 |
| 2020 | 328,800 | −8.0% | 39,100 | 8.41 |
| 2019 | 357,400 | −6.8% | 40,600 | 8.80 |
| 2018 | 383,600 | +7.5% | 41,500 | 9.24 |
| 2017 | 357,000 | +2.3% | 42,400 | 8.42 |
| 2016 | 349,000 | +0.9% | 43,100 | 8.10 |
| 2015 | 346,000 | −4.7% | 44,000 | 7.86 |
| 2014 | 363,000 | −1.6% | 44,800 | 8.10 |
| 2013 | 369,000 | −1.1% | 45,400 | 8.13 |
| 2012 | 373,000 | +4.5% | 45,900 | 8.13 |
| 2011 | 357,000 | −3.5% | 46,200 | 7.73 |
| 2010 | 370,000 | −1.1% | 46,800 | 7.91 |
| 2009 | 374,000 | −11% | 47,300 | 7.91 |
| 2008 | 420,000 | +2.7% | 48,000 | 8.75 |
| 2007 | 409,000 | +2.5% | 48,200 | 8.49 |
| 2006 | 399,000 | −8.3% | 48,500 | 8.23 |
| 2005 | 435,000 | −0.7% | 48,700 | 8.93 |
| 2004 | 438,000 | +9.5% | 49,100 | 8.92 |
| 2003 | 400,000 | +9.6% | 49,500 | 8.08 |
| 2002 | 365,000 | −1.4% | 44,800 | 8.15 |
| 2001 | 370,000 | 0.0% | 50,100 | 7.39 |
| 2000 | 370,000 | −3.9% | 50,400 | 7.34 |
| 1999 | 385,000 | +7.2% | 50,700 | 7.59 |
| 1998 | 359,000 | −9.6% | 51,200 | 7.01 |
| 1997 | 397,000 | +3.1% | 51,800 | 7.66 |
| 1996 | 385,000 | +4.3% | 52,700 | 7.31 |
| 1995 | 369,000 | −1.6% | 53,700 | 6.87 |
| 1994 | 375,000 | −6.3% | 54,500 | 6.88 |
| 1993 | 400,000 | 0.0% | 55,700 | 7.18 |
| 1992 | 400,000 | +4.7% | 56,700 | 7.05 |
| 1991 | 382,000 | +325% | 57,600 | 6.63 |
| 1990 | 89,900 | −0.7% | 58,500 | 1.54 |
| 1989 | 90,500 | +0.8% | 59,000 | 1.53 |
| 1988 | 89,800 | −6.7% | 59,600 | 1.51 |
| 1987 | 96,300 | +2.9% | 59,900 | 1.61 |
| 1986 | 93,600 | −2.0% | 60,200 | 1.55 |
| 1985 | 95,500 | +3.2% | 60,600 | 1.58 |
| 1984 | 92,500 | −9.9% | 60,800 | 1.52 |
| 1983 | 102,700 | +4.3% | 61,000 | 1.68 |
| 1982 | 98,500 | −3.7% | 61,000 | 1.61 |
| 1981 | 102,300 | 0.0% | 61,000 | 1.68 |
| 1980 | 102,300 | +4.4% | 61,000 | 1.68 |
| 1979 | 98,000 | −6.4% | 60,700 | 1.61 |
| 1978 | 104,738 | +2.4% | 60,000 | 1.75 |
| 1977 | 102,301 | +2.2% | 59,700 | 1.71 |
| 1976 | 100,097 | −5.1% | 59,600 | 1.68 |
| 1975 | 105,448 | +11% | 59,200 | 1.78 |
| 1974 | 95,238 | −5.9% | 58,400 | 1.63 |
| 1973 | 101,181 | +6.4% | 57,300 | 1.77 |
| 1972 | 95,072 | +2.1% | 55,600 | 1.71 |
| 1971 | 93,111 | +1.9% | 54,000 | 1.72 |
| 1970 | 91,398 | +1.8% | 51,700 | 1.77 |
| 1969 | 89,804 | +5.5% | 49,800 | 1.80 |
| 1968 | 85,112 | −0.2% | 49,000 | 1.74 |
| 1967 | 85,284 | +2.4% | 48,600 | 1.75 |
| 1966 | 83,290 | +7.4% | 48,500 | 1.72 |
| 1965 | 77,571 | −7.0% | 48,600 | 1.60 |
| 1964 | 83,427 | +2.7% | 48,800 | 1.71 |
| 1963 | 81,239 | +4.7% | 49,000 | 1.66 |
| 1962 | 77,608 | −4.8% | 49,200 | 1.58 |
| 1961 | 81,527 | — | 48,900 | 1.67 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 8,885 t USD 242 m
- Exporter rank
- 20 of 143
- Imports
- 26,033 t USD 161 m
- Importer rank
- 20 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 Japan?
Japan produced 319,300 t in 2024, 0.98% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Japan rank in the world for production of tea leaves?
Japan ranked 11th of 46 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 49.7% of the world total.
How has the production of tea leaves in Japan changed?
It fell by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +37% for the world. The record was 438,000 t in 2004.
What is the yield of tea leaves in Japan?
9.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (319,300 t from 35,100 ha), against a world average of 5.9 t/ha.
Does Japan export or import tea leaves?
In 2024 Japan reported exports of 8,885 t (USD 242 m) and imports of 26,033 t (USD 161 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. 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.