Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamexported 107,000 tonnes of tea valued at 187 million USD duringJanuary-October, up 3.2 percent in volume and 14.3 percent in valueyear-on-year.

In October alone, the countryshipped abroad 13,000 tonnes of tea worth 22 million USD, the Agro Processingand Market Development Authority (Agrotrade) reported.

Pakistan, Taiwan, China andRussia remained Vietnam’s major markets in the 10 months, making up 72.5percent of total tea export revenue, said the agency.

Pakistancontributed significantly to the increase as with a 30.6 percent increase inthe volume of tea it imported from Vietnam.

Between 2014 and 2018, teaimport value of Pakistan and Taiwan expanded 14.9 percent and 6.5 percent,respectively, each year.

Pakistan has been seen as apromising market as Vietnamese tea made up only 2.2 percent of the country’smarket share in 2018. Meanwhile, the South Asian country consumes 172,900tonnes of black tea each year, and the number is forecast to reach 250,750tonnes in 2027, according to the United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganisation (FAO).

Currently, Vietnam ranks seventhin tea production and fifth in tea exports globally, with its tea products presentin more than 60 markets.

Last year, the country earned219 million USD from exporting 128,000 tonnes of tea.

Notably the country houses18,000 ha of shan tuyet tea, which is grown only in mountainous areas without chemicalfertilisers or pesticides.

Each tonne of Vietnamese tea is exported for 1,757 USD, up 6.3 percent ascompared with 2018. The price of shan tuyet tea, which is known for itspleasant flavour and fragrance, is much higher, ranging from 50,000 USD to100,000 USD per tonne.

Organic shan tuyet tea of BanLien commune, Bac Ha district, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, isregarded as a promising export item.

Up to 474 of more than 500 ha ofshan tuyet tea in Ban Lien has been recognised as organic. In 2017, Bac Ha’sshan tuyet tea received a licence for brand name registration.

Last year, Ban Lien Cooperativeexported 80 tonnes of organic shan tuyet tea to picky markets like Europe, theUS, Canada and Japan for 100 USD per kg. In the first 10 months, the volumestood at 75 tonnes.

Over the years, Ha Giang hasissued policies to promote shan tuyet tea production and consumption.

In August 2018, the IntellectualProperty Office of Vietnam issued a decision to licence geographical indicationregistration in 44 communes of Ha Giang’s six districts.

Hoang Su Phi district is home to4,600 ha of tea with an annual output of 12,880 tonnes. The area of ancient shantuyet tea stands at 2,000 ha, yielding more than 6,000 tonnes annually.

A total of 1,470 ha of tea inHoang Su Phi have been recognised as organic, of which 161 ha have satisfiedstandards set by the European Union.

Dang Thi Phuong, Vice Chairwomanof the People’s Committee of Vi Xuyen district said Cao Bo De commune has deliveredabout 200 tonnes of tea each year to six countries, including China, Belgium,Russia and Turkey.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hong, VicePresident of the Vietnam Tea Association, said with the support of the FrenchDevelopment Agency, the association has held various activities to promote shantuyet tea globally.

A delegation of Vietnamesebusinesses attended the Tea Village fair in Paris from September 27-29, shesaid, stressing that with efforts of the association, local authorities andenterprises, exports of shan tuyet tea are expected to grow robustly./.