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Tea Production in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2024 1539

Revenue

$26.4bn

2024

$26.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

83,509

Businesses

302

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Tea Production in China industry analysis

Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized 10.2% over the five years through 2024, to total $26.4 billion. This trend includes an anticipated growth of 8.2% in 2024. Approximately 302 enterprises operate in the industry, employing about 83,509 workers.
Increasing consumer health consciousness and the rapid development of herbal tea beverages have steadily bolstered the industry's performance. Additionally, many ready-to-drink teas have become popular among younger demographics. The industry is focused on the domestic market and exports therefore only contribute an estimated 0.7% of industry revenue. Additionally, little tea is imported into China. Imports account for less than 0.1% of domestic demand in 2024.
COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in weaker demand in 2020 and 2022. In early 2020, people were advised to stay at home and keep social distance to avoid further spread of COVID-19. Demand for tea beverages from catering industries has decreased, resulting in a slower increase of 1.3% in industry revenue. In 2022, the COVID-19 situation in China has further aggravated, and the Chinese Government took more stringent measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Industry revenue grew by 5.2% in the year.
In China, many brands compete in the tea beverage market. The Master Kong, Nongfu Spring and Suntory brands are industry leaders due to their dominant positions across many product segments. Their market shares have increased over the past five years as their brands have gained popularity. Many well-known foreign beverage manufacturers have also entered the Chinese market. However, the market still has opportunities for new entrants that can find niche markets. Research and development for tea beverage products is rapidly developing, and new products have the potential to access new markets and consumer groups.
As consumer drinking habits change, the industry is forecast to grow at an annualized 7.5% over the five years through 2029, to total $37.8 billion. Although tea beverages will remain the industry's leading product, companies are projected to increasingly individualize and specialize their products.

Trends and Insights

  • Long history of tea culture supports industry demand. Under the influence of traditional tea culture, Chinese consumers have a high acceptance of tea beverages, which has supported the rapid growth of industry demand.
  • Tea beverages are the largest product segment. Green tea, black tea and oolong tea beverages have been the most popular tea products.
  • Industry activities are concentrated in high-income regions. Regions with high income levels generally have higher purchasing power for tea beverages and therefore larger consumer markets.
  • The industry has a low concentrate level. The top four industry participants have a joint market share of 35.2% in 2024.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 10.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $26.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Long history of tea culture supports industry demand

  • China's tea culture has a history of over 4,700 years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Tea Production in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Continuous increasing income levels of Chinese residents will support industry growth

  • Income levels of Chinese residents have been increasing rapidly in the past decade, which makes it possible for the sustained growth of beverage production and consumption.

Biggest companies in the Tea Production in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.
2,913.5
Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd.
2,433.5
Suntory (China) Holding Co., Ltd.
2,138.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Tea Production in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Tea beverages, Energy drinks and Fruit tea and other soft beverages . Tea beverages is the largest segment of the Tea Production in China.

Trends and Insights

Tea beverages are the largest segment

  • Tea beverages refer to the beverages processed with the extract, tea power and concentrated tea as the main raw materials. Tea beverages have the unique flavor of tea and contains natural tea polyphenols, caffeine and other tea active ingredients.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry produces various types of tea beverages, including black, green, oolong and flower tea, and other soft beverages such as energy drinks, fruit tea and carbonated tea. Tea beverage manufacturers use liquid tea as a base and add sweeteners, colors and preservatives, and blend these ingredients into soft drinks. Tea beverages are then bottled in plastic or carton, or canned in aluminum.

What's included in this industry?

Tea beveragesEnergy drinksFruit tea and other soft beverages

Companies

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd.Suntory (China) Holding Co., Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GREEN TEABLACK TEAOOLONG TEA

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Long history of tea culture supports industry demand. Under the influence of traditional tea culture, Chinese consumers have a high acceptance of tea beverages, which has sup...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Tea beverages are the largest product segment. Green tea, black tea and oolong tea beverages have been the most popular tea products.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Industry activities are concentrated in high-income regions. Regions with high income levels generally have higher purchasing power for tea beverages and therefore larger con...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry has a low concentrate level. The top four industry participants have a joint market share of 35.2% in 2024.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Traditional leaders face challenges. Traditional market leaders, like Master Kong and Uni-President, are facing challenges from the rapid emerging companies, like Nongfu Spri...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Suntory (China) Holding Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Suntory (China) Holding Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry has a light regulation level. Production and operation of industry companies must company with laws and regulations in China. Besides this, the regulation level ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Industry profit has been volatile. Industry profitability has fluctuated in the past five years due to the increasing health consciousness of Chinese consumers and the COVID-...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Tea Production industry in China in 2024?

The market size of the Tea Production industry in China is $26.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Tea Production in China industry in 2024?

There are 302 businesses in the Tea Production industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Tea Production industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tea Production industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 10.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Tea Production industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tea Production industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Tea Production market in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Tea Production market in China are Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., Nongfu Spring Co., Ltd. and Suntory (China) Holding Co., Ltd.

What does the Tea Production in China include?

Tea beverages and Energy drinks are part of the Tea Production industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tea Production in China?

The company holding the most market share in China is Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp..

How competitive is the Tea Production industry in China?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Tea Production industry in China.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in China

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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