Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Tea leaves in Pakistan are primarily an import-dependent staple for domestic consumption, with local cultivation remaining limited and supported mainly through research and pilot activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. UN Comtrade data via WITS shows Pakistan’s imports of bulk black tea (HS 090240) are large in both value and volume, with Kenya the dominant supplier and additional supply from other African origins. The market structure includes significant domestic blending/packing and brand competition, with Tapal and Lipton among leading branded players by retail value. Import clearance can hinge on plant-quarantine documentation and customs processes, making document readiness a key operational requirement for consistent supply.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market (Net importer)
Domestic RoleHigh-frequency household and foodservice beverage ingredient supplied mainly via imports and domestic blending/packing
Specification
Primary VarietyBlack tea (fermented) in bulk packages (HS 090240) for blending/packing
Packaging- Bulk import format commonly aligns with HS 090240 trade (black tea in packages exceeding 3 kg), supporting domestic blending/packing workflows
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Origin tea processing and packing (bulk) → sea freight to Pakistan → plant-quarantine and customs documentation review/filing → inspection/sampling/treatment if required → customs clearance → domestic blending/packing → distributor/wholesale → retail and foodservice
Temperature- Typically shipped and stored at ambient conditions; moisture control is critical to prevent quality degradation
Atmosphere Control- Odor and humidity protection during storage/handling to prevent tainting of dry tea
Shelf Life- Dried tea is relatively shelf-stable, but quality can degrade with humidity exposure and odor absorption during warehousing and repacking
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighPlant-quarantine import permitting and required documentation (as described by Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection for plant/plant products) can block or delay clearance if commodity applicability is confirmed and documents are missing, expired, or inconsistent at the time of inspection/release.Confirm HS 0902 tea’s commodity-specific import requirements with DPP before contracting; align exporter documents (including phytosanitary certificate where required) with DPP release-order checklist and run a pre-shipment document audit.
Food Safety MediumDomestic market enforcement actions have reported counterfeit/adulterated tea handling (e.g., reuse and dyeing of tea leaves and repackaging), increasing brand, safety, and recall exposure for downstream blenders and distributors.Use tamper-evident packaging, strengthen supplier approval, and implement routine inbound testing and market surveillance for adulteration and unauthorized repacking.
Supply Concentration MediumUN Comtrade data via WITS for HS 090240 indicates heavy reliance on Kenya as the dominant origin for Pakistan’s bulk black tea imports, so shocks in Kenya’s supply chain can materially affect availability and pricing.Qualify secondary origins (e.g., other African suppliers shown in trade data) and maintain flexible blending formulas to manage origin substitution.
Logistics MediumSea-freight disruption and container availability constraints can extend lead times and raise landed costs for bulk tea shipments, creating short-term supply gaps in a consumption-driven market.Hold safety stock sized to typical shipping plus clearance lead times; diversify forwarders/routes and contract with clear demurrage/detention responsibilities.
FAQ
What are the key plant-quarantine documents Pakistan may require for imported tea leaves?Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP) states that imports of plant and plant products require a valid import permit and, for release order processing, a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country along with core shipping documents (invoice, packing list, and bill of lading/air waybill). Importers should confirm tea’s commodity-specific applicability and requirements with DPP before shipment.
Which origins dominate Pakistan’s bulk black tea imports used for blending and packing?UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS portal for HS 090240 shows Kenya as the dominant origin for Pakistan’s bulk black tea imports, with additional supplies reported from other African origins such as Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi.
Does Pakistan have meaningful domestic tea production?Domestic tea cultivation is limited; Pakistan’s agricultural system supports tea largely through research and pilot efforts, including PARC’s National Tea & High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) in Shinkiari, Mansehra (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
What is a practical food-fraud risk for tea in Pakistan’s market channels?Authorities have reported enforcement actions against counterfeit/adulterated tea handling (including reuse and dyeing of tea leaves and repackaging), which increases brand and safety exposure for legitimate sellers. Strengthening packaging security and supplier controls, plus routine testing and market surveillance, reduces this risk.