Tea Biz | Week 36 Tea Price Report

September 6, 2025

Tea Trade Takeaways

Week 36 | Ending Sept. 5, 2025

Premiums Concentrated in Quality: Mombasa PF1s and Colombo’s seasonal Uva lines continued to draw premiums, while plainer grades struggled.

Retail inflation remains stable: India’s CPI remained at multi‑year lows, while EU and US beverage categories stayed firm, keeping shelf prices sticky abroad.

Heavy volumes test buyers: Mombasa catalogues exceeded 160,000 packages again, with ~34% withdrawals, showing selective demand.

Policy and cost factors linger: Sri Lanka’s wage hikes and shipping costs continue to pressure exporter margins into Q3.

India — Retail inflation stayed low, softening pressure on domestic tea prices. Auctions at Kolkata and Guwahati trended steady to softer, while direct estate purchases remained limited.
East Africa — At Mombasa, Sale 35 catalogued over 160,000 packages. PF1s and BP1s with good leaf held firm, but nearly 34% went unsold, showing selective buying.
Sri Lanka — Colombo saw strong interest in seasonal Uva teas, fetching premiums of 15–20 US cents, while Low Growns remained firm. Exporters remain cautious amid higher costs.
Indonesia — Jakarta offered light volumes again, with orthodox teas from North Sumatra firm‑to‑dearer. Direct overseas buying programs were minimal.

Forecasts

Global composite price steady near $2.75/kg in August. | YCharts

Trading Economics forecasts tea in the $2.70–$2.80/kg band through Q3. | Trading Economics

Van Rees expects premiums for PF1/Orthodox teas to remain quality‑driven. | Van Rees

IMARC projects 4% CAGR to 2030, led by specialty and RTD teas. | IMARC

For expanded coverage, visit Tea Biz Tea Price Report

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This is the Tea Price Report for Week 35, ending August 29, 2025. Tea Price Takeaways Premiums steady on quality: Mombasa PF1/BP1s and Colombo’s high-growns continued to attract premiums, though overall…

teajourney.pub

Tea Price Report

This is the Tea Price Report for Week 34, ending August 22, 2025. Tea Price Takeaways Quality premiums are back: Clean PF1s (Kenya) and Orthodox (Sri Lanka/Indonesia) fetched premiums. |…

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Dan Bolton

Dan Bolton is a veteran journalist and publisher specializing in the global tea industry. He founded Tea Journey magazine and the Tea Biz podcast, amplifying expert voices and trade insights worldwide. His work spans thousands of articles and interviews, shaping industry dialogue on trade, sustainability, and market trends.

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Dan Bolton

Dan is publisher, podcast host, and blogger. He is a frequent speaker at industry seminars and conferences (virtual and in-person). Dan was the first editor and publisher at World Tea News, worked as editor and publisher of Tea Magazine and managing editor of STiR coffee and tea. His work appears online and in many magazines. In 2016 he organized the collaborative group of tea journalists and experts who founded Tea Journey magazine and in 2021 he launched the Tea Biz podcast. He began his publications career in 1974 as a newspaper reporter.