Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionImported Agricultural Commodity (dried tea)
Raw Material
Market
Ceylon tea (Sri Lanka-origin black tea) is supplied to Kazakhstan primarily through imports, with 2023 HS 0902 tea imports valued at about USD 105.3 million (33.9 million kg) based on UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS platform. Kazakhstan’s import mix is heavily weighted toward bulk black tea (HS 090240), indicating downstream blending/packing activity alongside direct retail imports. Sri Lanka is a material supplying origin for Kazakhstan’s black tea imports (HS 090240) and also a leading exporter to Kazakhstan for black tea in smaller immediate packings (HS 090230) in 2023. Kazakhstan also exports packaged black tea (HS 090230) to neighboring markets, consistent with a regional packing/distribution role in Central Asia/EAEU trade.
Market RoleNet importer and consumer market (import-dependent); downstream blending/packing supports domestic sales and some re-exports
Domestic RoleHigh-frequency household beverage category reliant on imported bulk tea inputs, with local packing/blending and branded distribution
Specification
Primary VarietyBlack tea (fermented) — Sri Lanka-origin 'Ceylon tea'
Physical Attributes- Kazakhstan market supply includes CTC granulated tea, leaf tea, and tea bags as product formats handled by local packers/distributors.
Packaging- Bulk packings for blending/packing (black tea HS 090240) dominate Kazakhstan’s import structure.
- Smaller immediate packings for direct retail (black tea HS 090230) represent a smaller but meaningful import segment.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Import bulk black tea (HS 090240) → local blending/packing (leaf/CTC/tea bags) → domestic distribution → re-export of packaged black tea (HS 090230) to neighboring markets.
Temperature- Ambient transport/storage; protect from moisture, heat exposure, and odour contamination during long inland transit to a landlocked market.
Shelf Life- Dry tea maintains quality when sealed and stored dry; moisture ingress and packaging damage are common quality-loss risks in distribution.
Risks
Food Safety HighA shipment can be blocked from market circulation if safety indicators (e.g., contaminant/pesticide residue compliance as regulated under EAEU TR TS 021/2011) are not met, triggering rejection, withdrawal, or costly rework/relabeling in Kazakhstan.Require accredited-lab test reports aligned to EAEU requirements, maintain robust supplier COAs, and validate conformity evidence (including declaration support files) before shipment and before release into circulation.
Regulatory Compliance MediumLabeling non-compliance under EAEU TR TS 022/2011 (missing importer details, incomplete composition for flavored teas, or other mandatory fields) can cause delays, relabeling requirements, or enforcement actions in Kazakhstan.Run pre-dispatch label checks against TR TS 022/2011 and maintain controlled label templates per SKU/formulation.
Supply Concentration MediumKazakhstan’s black tea import structure is concentrated in a few origins for bulk supply (HS 090240), so disruptions in major supplying origins can affect availability and blending economics for Sri Lanka-origin components within market blends.Diversify approved origins for functional blend bases (while preserving Sri Lanka-origin component specs) and maintain buffer inventory for high-turn SKUs.
Sustainability- Upstream climate and cost pressures in Sri Lanka’s tea sector can translate into availability/price volatility for Sri Lanka-origin (Ceylon) tea supplied into Kazakhstan.
- Residue-management expectations (pesticides/contaminants) in origin supply chains are material for Kazakhstan market access under EAEU food-safety rules.
Labor & Social- Sri Lanka-origin (Ceylon) tea sourcing can carry labor and decent-work due diligence expectations; ILO research highlights decent work deficits and structural pressures in Sri Lanka’s tea industry, relevant to responsible sourcing screening by importers/brand owners.
FAQ
How large are Kazakhstan’s tea imports in trade terms?In 2023, Kazakhstan imported about USD 105.3 million of tea (HS 0902), totaling about 33.9 million kg, based on UN Comtrade data published via the World Bank WITS platform.
Does Kazakhstan mainly import bulk tea or retail packs?Bulk black tea (HS 090240) dominates: Kazakhstan imported about USD 79.1 million (29.0 million kg) in 2023, versus about USD 20.3 million (3.16 million kg) for black tea in smaller immediate packings (HS 090230), indicating significant downstream blending/packing activity.
Is Kazakhstan only a consumer market, or does it also re-export tea?Kazakhstan also re-exports packaged black tea: in 2023 it exported about USD 22.6 million (3.51 million kg) of black tea (HS 090230), primarily to nearby markets such as the Russian Federation, the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, based on UN Comtrade data via WITS.