Casablanca – China’s tea exports to Morocco have continued to show significant growth, underscoring the enduring importance of tea in Moroccan culture. According to recent trade data from the United Nations COMTRADE database, Chinese tea exports to Morocco reached $190.08 million in 2023, following a notable $248.31 million in 2022. This consistent demand highlights Morocco’s status as one of China’s top buyers, demonstrating the country’s deep-rooted cultural connection to tea, a staple on Moroccan tables for centuries.

Data from the Russian news agency Interfax, drawing on official Chinese customs records, reinforces this trend. Between January and September of 2024, Morocco was one of the largest importers of Chinese tea, with purchases reaching approximately $166.3 million. This places Morocco as one of the 126 countries benefiting from China’s tea exports. Despite a slight dip from the previous year’s peak, Morocco’s tea imports from China still show a remarkable resilience and consistency in demand.

This demand is not unique to Morocco alone, as other countries in Africa and Asia, including Ghana, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan, have also been substantial buyers of Chinese tea, albeit at lower volumes than Morocco. In comparison, the United States imported just $43.4 million of Chinese tea during the same period, illustrating a contrastingly modest demand for Chinese tea outside of regions where it is culturally embedded.

With China producing up to 3.5 million tons of tea annually, the country has also expanded its tea supply to the Russian Federation, marking a 14.7% increase in exports over the same nine-month period in 2024. China’s capacity to meet growing global demand, especially in countries with strong cultural ties to tea, cements its position as a major player in the international tea market.

This evolving trade relationship between Morocco and China underscores not only the economic ties between the two nations but also the cultural traditions that continue to thrive on the strength of such imports, ensuring that tea remains an enduring symbol of Moroccan hospitality and heritage.