Tea continues to hold a special place in Pakistanis’ daily lives, with the country spending over Rs179 billion ($629 million) on tea imports during the fiscal year 2024–25, according to official figures.
Pakistan imported 246,514 metric tons of tea in FY25, showing a 4.2% decline in volume compared to the previous year’s 259,000 tons. However, the overall import bill remained high due to global price trends and sustained local demand.
In June 2025 alone, tea imports amounted to 19,804 metric tons worth $49.7 million (Rs14.18 billion)—a 16.9% drop in volume compared to May, when imports reached 21,971 tons worth nearly $60 million.
Despite repeated discussions on restricting non-essential imports to save foreign exchange, tea remains an exception, reflecting how deeply it is ingrained in Pakistani culture.
Pakistan remains one of the top global tea importers and consumers, showing that for many households, cutting back on tea is simply not an option.
