Morocco Tops List of Chinese Tea Importers in 2024: Record Numbers Reflect the Depth of Trade Relations

ALDAR/

A recent report issued by the Subcommittee on the Tea Industry of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation has revealed that the Kingdom of Morocco ranked first among countries importing Chinese tea in 2024, recording unprecedented figures in both volume and value.

According to the published data, Morocco imported approximately 80.6 thousand tons of Chinese tea during the current year, marking a significant increase of 34.68% compared to 2023. The total value of these imports reached around 243 million US dollars, a rise of 27.61% from the previous year, underscoring the growing prominence of Chinese tea in the Moroccan market.

Notably, green tea accounted for 99.85% of the total imported volume, highlighting Moroccan consumers’ strong preference for this type of tea, both for daily use and commercial purposes.

Globally, China recorded a total tea trade volume (exports and imports) of 428.1 thousand tons in 2024, reflecting a 5.3% year-on-year increase. The overall value of these transactions amounted to approximately 1.58 billion US dollars, reinforcing China’s status as a key player in the global tea market.

According to the same report, just five countries accounted for more than 40% of China’s total tea exports. These countries are, in order: Morocco, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Mauritania. This data illustrates that tea has evolved beyond being a mere food product to becoming a strategic commodity that mirrors trade dynamics and diplomatic proximity between nations.

Morocco’s achievement in the tea market reflects, on one hand, a shift in national consumption patterns, and on the other, the strength of the trade relations between Rabat and Beijing, which in recent years have taken on a strategic dimension encompassing sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, technology, and commerce.