Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried
Industry PositionBeverage ingredient (tea leaves for infusion, blending, and packaging)
Market
Dried tea leaves (HS 0902) are a plantation commodity in Indonesia with both domestic consumption and export significance. Indonesia’s main tea production centers are concentrated in West Java and several other provinces, with West Java contributing the largest share of national production in recent years. Indonesia exports tea to multiple markets, with Malaysia cited as the leading destination by volume and value in 2023, and exports are largely in black tea form under HS 09024090. Official outlook analysis highlights structural headwinds including declining tea area and climate-related productivity risk, which can tighten exportable supply.
Market RoleProducer and exporter (with meaningful domestic consumption)
Domestic RoleDomestic beverage commodity with significant internal consumption alongside export channels
Market GrowthDeclining (medium-term outlook (2023–2027 projection))gradual supply pressure from declining tea area, with outlook projections indicating slight production decline over 2023–2027
Specification
Physical Attributes- Dried tea can be marketed as leaf/loose forms; some green teas are described as rolled into tight forms (e.g., "gun powder" style).
Compositional Metrics- Tea is described as a caffeinated infusion made by steeping dried leaves/shoots/stems of Camellia sinensis in hot water.
Packaging- Downstream repacking/packing of processed black tea into branded products is documented for some Indonesian producers (example: Walini by PTPN VIII).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Plucking of tea shoots/leaves → processing into black/green/oolong/white styles (oxidation control varies by type) → drying → packing → export distribution
Risks
Supply Availability HighIndonesia’s official tea outlook highlights sustained decline in tea area (including land conversion) and projects mild production pressure over 2023–2027, which can tighten exportable surplus and disrupt contract fulfillment for dried tea leaves.Secure multi-province sourcing (not only West Java), prioritize suppliers with replanting programs, and contract for forward volumes with quality/traceability requirements.
Climate MediumClimate change (higher temperatures and reduced rainfall) is cited as a productivity and sustainability threat for Indonesian tea plantations.Diversify sourcing across elevation zones and provinces; require farm resilience practices and monitor seasonal yield variability.
Regulatory Compliance MediumSector diagnostics in the official outlook cite constraints including limited adoption of GAP/GMP and challenges meeting ISO-referenced quality expectations, which can translate into buyer audit failures or market access limitations for some supply chains.Implement supplier qualification with GAP/GMP training, pre-shipment QA, and third-party food-safety certification pathways (e.g., ISO 22000).
Documentation MediumIndonesia NPPO reporting indicates that phytosanitary certificates may not be issued for certain processed plant products/non-regulated articles; mismatches between buyer document expectations and what can be issued can delay clearance.Confirm destination import conditions before shipment and align document sets (including any alternative certificates issued by the Indonesian Quarantine Authority).
Sustainability- Climate change risk to tea productivity (temperature increase and reduced rainfall cited as potential impacts).
- Declining tea area and land conversion pressures that can reduce long-term production capacity.
Labor & Social- Labor-intensive plantation commodity supporting rural employment; workforce and occupational practices in estates and smallholder supply chains remain an operational focus area.
Standards- ISO 22000
- ISO 9001
- Rainforest Alliance (RA)
- UTZ
- Halal
FAQ
Which Indonesian provinces are the main production centers for tea?Official outlook reporting identifies the main tea production centers in 2020–2024 as Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat, and Jambi, with Jawa Barat contributing the largest share.
Where does Indonesia export tea to, and which market is the largest destination?In the 2023 export destination summary in Indonesia’s official tea outlook, Malaysia is cited as the largest destination by export volume and value, followed by markets including Russia, the USA, Germany, China, and Poland.
What tea category dominates Indonesia’s tea exports in the official outlook?The official outlook notes that a large share of Indonesian tea exports is in black tea form described under HS 09024090.