Tea leaves production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 1,796 t of tea leaves, the 36th largest in the world (0.01% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 9.7%. The record was 21,780 t in 2005. Area harvested: 907 ha, yield 2.0 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 1,796 t
- World rank
- 36 of 46
- 10-year change
- −9.7%
- Record
- 21,780 t
- 2005
Tea leaves in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.01%
- 0.01% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.0
- world 5.9 (−67%)
- kg per person
- 0.03
- world 4.01
- 10-year change
- −9.7%
- world +37%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | DR Congo | 2,014 | 0.01% |
| 35 | Brazil | 2,011 | 0.01% |
| 36 | South Africa | 1,796 | 0.01% |
| 37 | Azerbaijan | 1,202 | 0.00% |
| 38 | Bolivia | 1,201 | 0.00% |
Map of world production of tea leaves
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,796 | −1.9% | 907 | 1.98 |
| 2023 | 1,831 | +4.6% | 872 | 2.10 |
| 2022 | 1,750 | −3.2% | 835 | 2.10 |
| 2021 | 1,807 | −0.7% | 877 | 2.06 |
| 2020 | 1,819 | +1.5% | 882 | 2.06 |
| 2019 | 1,793 | −0.9% | 870 | 2.06 |
| 2018 | 1,809 | −2.4% | 878 | 2.06 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | +8.0% | 899 | 2.06 |
| 2016 | 1,716 | −7.6% | 834 | 2.06 |
| 2015 | 1,858 | −6.6% | 901 | 2.06 |
| 2014 | 1,990 | −8.3% | 962 | 2.07 |
| 2013 | 2,171 | +150% | 1,047 | 2.07 |
| 2012 | 870 | −52% | 419 | 2.08 |
| 2011 | 1,795 | +9.0% | 856 | 2.10 |
| 2010 | 1,647 | −5.5% | 777 | 2.12 |
| 2009 | 1,743 | −47% | 1,500 | 1.16 |
| 2008 | 3,290 | −48% | 1,515 | 2.17 |
| 2007 | 6,333 | +90% | 2,874 | 2.20 |
| 2006 | 3,328 | −85% | 1,486 | 2.24 |
| 2005 | 21,780 | +409% | 5,800 | 3.76 |
| 2004 | 4,279 | −65% | 2,200 | 1.95 |
| 2003 | 12,143 | −2.9% | 5,300 | 2.29 |
| 2002 | 12,500 | −1.3% | 6,200 | 2.02 |
| 2001 | 12,671 | +1.3% | 6,864 | 1.85 |
| 2000 | 12,514 | +3.6% | 6,861 | 1.82 |
| 1999 | 12,077 | −7.2% | 6,677 | 1.81 |
| 1998 | 13,010 | +59% | 6,700 | 1.94 |
| 1997 | 8,207 | −9.4% | 6,657 | 1.23 |
| 1996 | 9,062 | −24% | 6,327 | 1.43 |
| 1995 | 11,975 | +5.8% | 6,307 | 1.90 |
| 1994 | 11,316 | +7.4% | 6,130 | 1.85 |
| 1993 | 10,532 | +7.5% | 6,164 | 1.71 |
| 1992 | 9,801 | −12% | 6,164 | 1.59 |
| 1991 | 11,128 | −11% | 6,721 | 1.66 |
| 1990 | 12,441 | −4.3% | 6,326 | 1.97 |
| 1989 | 13,000 | +8.6% | 6,721 | 1.93 |
| 1988 | 11,967 | +4.0% | 6,534 | 1.83 |
| 1987 | 11,507 | +7.9% | 6,237 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 10,663 | +16% | 6,273 | 1.70 |
| 1985 | 9,218 | +11% | 6,100 | 1.51 |
| 1984 | 8,301 | +17% | 6,000 | 1.38 |
| 1983 | 7,097 | +7.0% | 5,300 | 1.34 |
| 1982 | 6,631 | +21% | 5,000 | 1.33 |
| 1981 | 5,500 | −54% | 5,000 | 1.10 |
| 1980 | 12,000 | +139% | 6,000 | 2.00 |
| 1979 | 5,025 | +10% | 5,000 | 1.01 |
| 1978 | 4,561 | +32% | 4,500 | 1.01 |
| 1977 | 3,459 | 0.0% | 4,000 | 0.86 |
| 1976 | 3,459 | +22% | 3,500 | 0.99 |
| 1975 | 2,836 | −5.5% | 3,500 | 0.81 |
| 1974 | 3,000 | +20% | 3,000 | 1.00 |
| 1973 | 2,500 | +25% | 3,000 | 0.83 |
| 1972 | 2,000 | +33% | 2,400 | 0.83 |
| 1971 | 1,500 | +88% | 2,400 | 0.63 |
| 1970 | 800 | −60% | 2,400 | 0.33 |
| 1969 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,900 | 1.05 |
| 1968 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,500 | 1.33 |
| 1967 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,400 | 1.43 |
| 1966 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.82 |
| 1965 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.82 |
| 1964 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.82 |
| 1963 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.82 |
| 1962 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.82 |
| 1961 | 2,000 | — | 1,100 | 1.82 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 6,326 t USD 25.8 m
- Exporter rank
- 28 of 143
- Imports
- 26,316 t USD 37.9 m
- Importer rank
- 19 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 South Africa?
South Africa produced 1,796 t in 2024, 0.01% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of tea leaves?
South Africa ranked 36th 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 South Africa changed?
It fell by 9.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +37% for the world. The record was 21,780 t in 2005.
What is the yield of tea leaves in South Africa?
2.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1,796 t from 907 ha), against a world average of 5.9 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import tea leaves?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 6,326 t (USD 25.8 m) and imports of 26,316 t (USD 37.9 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 South Africa 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.