Japan's green tea exports in the first 10 months of this year hit the highest level in over 70 years, driven by booming demand for matcha powder abroad and a weaker yen. Shipments rose 44 percent from the previous year to 10,084 tons. The United States led imports with 3,497 tons.
Japan's green tea exports reached their highest level in more than 70 years during the first 10 months of this year, fueled by strong overseas demand for matcha powder and the depreciation of the yen. According to government and industry data released Saturday, shipments from January to October increased 44 percent year-on-year to 10,084 tons. The United States was the largest importer, taking in 3,497 tons, followed by Taiwan, Thailand, and Germany.
This marks the ninth consecutive year of growth in green tea exports, mirroring the rising global appeal of Japanese cuisine among health-conscious consumers. Still, annual exports remain below 10,000 tons, far short of the 1954 peak of 11,553 tons, partly due to the growing popularity of Chinese teas.
At home, demand for green tea has been sluggish, yet leaf prices have climbed in recent years amid declining production. Japan produced around 74,000 tons of tea leaves in 2024, over 10 percent less than a decade ago, affected by falling interest in sencha for brewing and an aging farming population.
An agricultural cooperative in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan's leading tea-producing region, reported that leaves harvested between October and November—typically used for bottled drinks—sold for more than 2,500 yen ($16) per kilogram, a six-fold surge from the previous year.
