The Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), citing statistics from the General Department of Customs, said that Vietnam's tea export in March 2020 reached 9,200 tons, worth US $ 13.1 million, up 0.06%. in volume, but down 20.6% in value over the same period in 2019.
The average export price of tea reached 1,413 USD / ton, down 20.7% compared to March 2019.
Generally for the first 3 months of 2020, tea exports reached 26,600 tons, valued at US $ 38.7 million, up 0.03% in volume, but down 16% in value over the same period in 2019. Average export price tea items reached 1,457.4 USD / ton, down more than 16% compared to the first quarter of 2019.
The decline in tea exports was due to oversupply pressure on the global market, which made the price of tea plummet. In addition, the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic have disrupted trade between Vietnam and its partner countries due to limited cargo transportation and reduced demand for tea in many countries.
If the disease situation is not controlled early, Vietnam's tea export is expected to decline sharply in the second quarter of 2020, the Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said.
In the first 3 months of 2020, tea exports to three main markets are Pakistan, Russia and Taiwan both fell.
In particular, tea exports to the market Pakistan reached 6,840 tons, valued at 12.28 million USD, down 11% in volume and down 16.3% in value compared to the first 3 months of 2019.
Tea export to Russia reached 3,500 tons, worth US $ 5.4 million, down 4.4% in volume and 3.8% in value and exported tea to Taiwan reached 3,000 tons, worth US $ 4.4 million, down 12% in volume, down 16.8% in value over the same period last year.
In addition, tea exports to China dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2020, reaching only 762 tons, valued at US $ 1 million, down 45.6% in volume and down 82.2% in value; Saudi Arabia only reached 406 tons, worth US $ 660,000, down 35.7% in volume and 37.4% in value over the same period in 2019.
Notably, while exports to major markets in the first 3 months of 2020 decreased, tea exports to other markets increased sharply as Indonesia increased by 60.7% in volume and 50.4% in value. , The US increased 30.3% in volume and 28.8% in value, United Arab Emirates increased to 170.3 in volume and 138.5% in value.
