Slight growth predicted for Chinese tea exports
According to a report by the Chinese tea industry, China's tea exports will increase by 2% compared to last year. China, the world's largest tea producer, saw foreign trade exceed 300'000 tons in 2009 and its tea planting area has now reached 1.86 million hectares, about half of the world's total. Green tea remains the clear front-runner in terms of export volume with over two-thirds, or 230'000 tons, sold to foreign markets. On the other hand, exports of flower tea and pu erh tea have begun to fall. China surpassed India to become the world's largest tea producer in 2005. Output reached 1.3 million tons last year, accounting for 31 percent of global tea production.