Ankara: Japan's green tea exports have reached their highest level in over 70 years, driven by a booming international market for matcha powder and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, as indicated by recent government and industry data. In the first ten months of this year, tea exports soared by 44% compared to the same period last year, totaling 10,084 tonnes.
According to Emirates News Agency, the United States emerged as the top importer, purchasing 3,497 tonnes of green tea during this period. The consistent rise in green tea exports over the past nine years highlights the increasing global popularity of Japanese foods among health-conscious consumers. However, despite this surge in overseas sales, total annual shipments have yet to surpass the 1954 peak of 11,553 tonnes, partly due to the growing popularity of Chinese tea.
Within Japan, green tea demand remains sluggish, yet tea leaf prices have been on the rise due to falling production levels. In 2024, Japan's tea leaf production stood at approximately 74,000 tons, marking a decline of over 10 percent compared to a decade ago. This reduction is attributed to decreasing demand for sencha, commonly used in brewing, and an aging farming population.
An agricultural cooperative in Kagoshima, a key tea-producing region, reported that leaves harvested between October and November, typically used for bottled tea drinks, commanded prices exceeding 2,500 yen ($16) per kilogram, a six-fold increase from the previous year.