Pakistan and China are looking to enhance their collaboration in the tea industry to address the significant import-export gap and boost trade opportunities. Manzoor Ali, Minister at the Pakistan Embassy in China, has expressed optimism regarding the future of tea trade between the two nations, highlighting Pakistan’s status as a major tea consumer with a population exceeding 200 million.
Tea Trade Agreement
In an effort to meet Pakistan’s growing domestic demand and expand into international markets, the embassy signed an agreement with the International Business Advisory Council of the China International Engineering Consulting Association (CAIEC). The goal is to extend tea exports to neighboring Islamic countries and European markets, ensuring broader trade reach.
According to the United Nations COMTRADE database, Pakistan imported over $600 million worth of tea last year, while China’s tea exports to Pakistan totaled only $5.76 million in 2023. This gap points to the potential for stronger trade partnerships in the tea sector.
Qingyuan, a senior official from the Tea Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, discussed opportunities for blending Chinese and Pakistani broken tea to create new products for international markets. Broken black tea, widely consumed in Pakistan for teabags, is affordable in China, making it an ideal candidate for export. Qingyuan also mentioned that industrial transfer or guidance from Yunnan to Pakistan could be instrumental in enhancing the tea trade between the two countries.
Cultural Significance of Tea
Tea is deeply rooted in Pakistan’s culture, as noted by Karachi-based writer Sadia Khatri, who described it as an integral part of everyday life and conversations. Abdul Haq, a Pakistani trader, echoed this sentiment, praising the variety of Chinese teas, including green, black, and oolong, which are popular in Pakistan. He emphasized that the tea trade is more than just a business; it reflects a cultural and emotional connection between the two nations.
Haq also pointed out that milk tea, a popular drink in Pakistan, is now gaining popularity among Chinese youth, symbolizing how both cultures are increasingly blending through shared tea traditions.
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