Vietnam Tea Exports to the US Jump 36% to $7.64 Million
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Vietnam shipped $7.64 million worth of tea to the United States in the first eight months of 2026. That is a 36.4 percent jump year-on-year.
Volume climbed 22 percent over the period. At the same time, average prices gained 12 percent to $1,649 per ton, customs data shows.
Value gains offset volume drop
American demand outpaced Vietnam’s overall tea trade, which shrank by volume. Worldwide shipments totaled 77,256 tons worth $143.5 million through August. Volume dropped 9.8 percent. Even so, total export value fell just 1.5 percent because the global average price rose 4.5 percent to $1,778 per ton.
Sales to Saudi Arabia jumped 27 percent, and exports to Russia rose 15 percent across the eight months. Pakistan went the other way. Shipments to the longtime buyer fell by more than half after it enforced strict halal certification rules.
Premium blends drive export pricing
Vietnam’s Export-Import Department linked the price resilience to a structural pivot away from bulk raw leaves. Foreign buyers now order more processed green tea, oolong, and flavored blends. These specialty products yield higher retail margins.
Growers in production hubs like Lam Dong province are converting acreage to specialty teas. They want higher wholesale prices in premium consumer markets instead of chasing raw volume. The mix shift helps protect revenues when total shipments slow.
Divergence across agricultural commodities
Similar price dynamics played out across other Vietnamese agricultural sectors. Coffee exports brought in over $6 billion on nearly 1.7 million tons through August. Seafood shipments generated $3.3 billion, led by Chinese demand for shrimp.
Perishable domestic crops faced steeper swings. Farm-gate dragon fruit prices in Lam Dong crashed 53 to 90 percent earlier in the season to between 2,000 and 7,000 dong per kilogram. Meanwhile, tight supply in Dak Lak lifted Monthong durian prices 20 to 30 percent to 105,000 dong per kilogram.
Targeting the final quarter
Government trade officials expect export volumes and pricing to stay strong through the fourth quarter of 2026. Holiday retail purchasing across North America, East Asia, and the Middle East should anchor year-end demand.
Industry groups are now watching September data to see if steady North American sales can cover the volume lost in South Asia through year-end.
Questions & Answers
Q.What contributed to the increase in the average price of Vietnam's tea exports to the US?
What contributed to the increase in the average price of Vietnam's tea exports to the US?
The average price for tea exports to the US gained 12 percent, reaching $1,649 per ton. This price increase helped offset a drop in the volume of American demand, which outpaced Vietnam's overall tea trade.
Q.Why did the overall value of Vietnam's worldwide tea exports fall only slightly despite a significant drop in volume?
Why did the overall value of Vietnam's worldwide tea exports fall only slightly despite a significant drop in volume?
Worldwide tea export volume dropped 9.8 percent, but the total export value fell just 1.5 percent. This was due to the global average price rising 4.5 percent to $1,778 per ton, helping to protect revenues.
Q.Which specific types of tea are foreign buyers increasingly ordering, and what is the strategic reason for this shift?
Which specific types of tea are foreign buyers increasingly ordering, and what is the strategic reason for this shift?
Foreign buyers are now ordering more processed green tea, oolong, and flavoured blends. This structural pivot away from bulk raw leaves aims to secure higher wholesale prices in premium consumer markets and boost retail margins.
Q.How did trade with Pakistan change compared to other major buyers like Saudi Arabia and Russia?
How did trade with Pakistan change compared to other major buyers like Saudi Arabia and Russia?
Sales to Saudi Arabia jumped 27 percent and exports to Russia rose 15 percent across the eight months. In contrast, shipments to Pakistan fell by more than half after it enforced strict halal certification rules.
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