Market
Black tea in Pakistan is a high-volume, import-dependent consumer market, with supply anchored in bulk black tea imports (HS 090240). UN Comtrade data via WITS indicates Pakistan imported about USD 575.1 million and 235.5 million kg of HS 090240 in 2023, with Kenya as the dominant supplier by value and volume. The market structure commonly involves importers bringing bulk tea for domestic blending, grading and packaging into mass-market retail formats. Quality conformance is often referenced against national standards such as PSQCA PS:493-2012, which specifies chemical requirements and packing/marking information for black tea.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market (major importer of bulk black tea)
Domestic RoleStaple hot beverage category supplied primarily through imported bulk black tea and domestic blending/packing
SeasonalityYear-round availability driven by imports; no meaningful domestic harvest seasonality.
Risks
Foreign Exchange HighForeign-exchange policy tightening and banking payment constraints can disrupt the ability of importers to open letters of credit, remit advance payments, or manage import financing—creating acute supply disruption risk for an import-dependent black tea market.Maintain diversified banking relationships, align contracts with SBP-compliant payment modes, and hold contingency inventory/forward cover where commercially feasible.
Supply Concentration MediumPakistan’s bulk black tea import supply is highly concentrated in a leading origin (Kenya), increasing exposure to origin-side production shocks, export logistics disruptions, and price volatility.Qualify alternative origins and blends (e.g., secondary East African suppliers) and use multi-origin blending strategies to reduce single-origin dependency.
Regulatory Compliance MediumMisclassification between closely related tea tariff lines (e.g., bulk vs. retail packings) and changes in statutory duties/taxes can materially change landed cost and delay clearance.Validate HS classification against HS notes and national tariff line descriptions and check TIPP for the latest effective duty/tax schedule before shipment.
Food Safety MediumNon-conformance to Pakistan’s black tea standard parameters or labeling/marking expectations (e.g., batch coding, declared net weight, process/expiry dates) can trigger enforcement actions, buyer rejection, or reputational risk.Implement pre-shipment and in-market QC against PSQCA PS:493-2012 parameters and maintain documented batch-level traceability through packing.
Logistics MediumSea freight volatility, port congestion, and clearance delays can increase demurrage/working-capital burden and create intermittent stock-outs in a market reliant on continuous bulk import flows.Use buffer stock policies aligned to lead times, book freight earlier in peak periods, and maintain cleared stock in bonded/non-bonded warehousing where appropriate.
Sustainability- Supply concentration in a small set of origin countries (notably Kenya) increases exposure to origin-side climate variability affecting yields and quality.
- Importers may face rising buyer expectations for origin traceability and sustainability credentials for tea sourced from major supplying countries.
FAQ
Which HS code is commonly used for bulk black tea imports into Pakistan?HS 090240 covers black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea in immediate packings exceeding 3 kg, which aligns with bulk import shipments used for domestic blending and packaging.
Where does Pakistan source most of its bulk black tea imports from?UN Comtrade data via WITS shows Kenya is the largest supplier for Pakistan’s HS 090240 black tea imports (e.g., in 2023), with other suppliers including countries such as Rwanda and Uganda.
What quality parameters are specified in Pakistan’s black tea standard?PSQCA PS:493-2012 specifies chemical requirements for black tea including minimum water extract and polyphenols, and limits for ash-related parameters, acid-insoluble ash, and crude fibre, alongside packing and marking expectations like batch coding and declared net weight.