The Ultimate Green Gold: Vietnam’s 5th Largest Global Producer Status Has America Chasing Tons of This Precious Commodity with Zero Import Tax

According to statistics from the Vietnam Customs Department, in April 2025, Vietnam’s tea exports reached 8,820 tons, earning a revenue of $14.82 million.

Accumulated over the first four months of 2025, Vietnam exported 35,680 tons of tea, generating $57.84 million in revenue. This signifies a decrease of 2.7% in volume and a 4.1% decline in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of tea stood at $1,620 per ton.

According to the Vietnam Tea Association, to achieve the target of exporting 136,500 tons of tea by 2030, Vietnam needs to promote organic tea cultivation, expand the planting of specialty tea varieties, and simultaneously invest in diverse product processing. Additionally, investments in enhancing quality and processing techniques are crucial to increasing the export value of tea.

Pakistan was Vietnam’s largest tea export market during the first four months, with 10,200 tons exported, generating over $19 million in revenue. This market accounted for a 28.7% market share.

Ranking second was the populous market of China, with 3,800 tons of tea exported, equivalent to $5.6 million. This represented a significant increase of 23.5% in volume and a 31.5% surge in turnover. Taiwan was the third-largest export market, with 3,300 tons of tea exported, valued at $5.4 million, reflecting a decrease of 22% in both volume and turnover. Consequently, Taiwan’s market share dropped to 9.25%.

Notably, the United States spent over $2.9 million on importing more than 2,000 tons of tea from Vietnam in the first four months, reflecting a 9.8% increase in price compared to the same period.

The US is Vietnam’s sixth-largest tea export market, accounting for a 5.69% market share. Prior to the US imposing new countervailing duties in April 2025, most tea products from Vietnam entering this market were exempt from import taxes or subject to very low tax rates (ranging from 0% to 6.4%), depending on specific varieties and HS codes.

According to the Tea Association, Vietnam is the world’s fifth-largest tea producer and exporter. Vietnamese tea is present in over 70 countries and territories. Currently, Vietnam processes approximately 15 different types of tea, among which black tea and green tea are the flagship products, accounting for the largest proportion in exports.

While the US is renowned for its coffee culture, it also presents a potential market for Vietnamese tea exports. Ranking among the top five markets in terms of global tea import value, the US exhibits a substantial consumption trend, with nearly 80% of households having tea at home and over 159 million Americans drinking tea daily. Americans consume more than 84 billion servings of tea annually, of which about 84% is black tea, 15% is green tea, and the remainder comprises oolong tea, white tea, and dark tea. Notably, the consumption of green tea is increasing yearly.

Furthermore, there are currently approximately 3 million overseas Vietnamese, over 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the US, and numerous Americans who have experienced and loved Vietnamese agricultural products. The diversity and openness of American culture also encourage consumers to explore new products, presenting opportunities for Vietnamese tea products.

According to experts, the Vietnamese tea industry will continue to maintain its growth trajectory in the coming years. It is projected that by 2030, tea export volume can reach 136,500 tons, increasing at an average rate of 0.82% per year and accounting for approximately 80% of the total tea production.