Global Tea Market Set to Hit $300B by 2025, Dubai Leads

The global tea industry is on track to reach nearly USD 300 billion by the end of 2025, with Dubai emerging as a pivotal hub in international trade. The forecast, revealed at the ninth Global Dubai Tea Forum (GDTF), highlights a market shift fueled by premium, organic, functional, and ready-to-drink teas.

Dubai, historically a logistics and re-export gateway, now commands over half of the world’s tea re-exports. The city is moving up the value chain through advanced blending, packaging, flavour profiling, storage, and tax-efficient trade solutions via the DMCC Tea Centre.

The latest DMCC report, Future of Trade: Tea, charts the evolution of an industry underpinning USD 18 billion in annual production and nearly USD 10 billion in global trade. It underscores the growing importance of climate-smart production, traceable supply chains, and higher-margin products as the market adapts to changing consumer behaviours and environmental pressures.

The forum also highlighted rising trends such as direct-to-consumer models, wellness-focused products, and digital traceability. Climate volatility, inflation, and shifting Gen Z preferences are reshaping supply routes, product formats, and global demand patterns.

Dubai’s DMCC Tea Centre processed over 24,400 metric tonnes of tea in 2024, connecting producers from traditional origins like Kenya with growing markets across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. With 26,000 member companies in DMCC’s ecosystem, businesses benefit from integrated logistics, trade finance, and market intelligence, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global tea hub.

Industry participants emphasize that resilience and traceability are no longer optional but commercial imperatives. Investments in climate-resilient farming, inclusive finance for growers, and digital platforms are set to define the next phase of global tea trade growth.