Comparison
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Bulk vs retail-packed tea
Bulk tea commonly ships in sacks or cartons under HS 0902.20 or 0902.40; tea in immediate packings of 3 kg or less uses 0902.10 or 0902.30. That threshold can change duty, but it does not decide whether food-labelling rules apply. Review the intended market and sales format separately. Morocco requires mandatory food-label information in Arabic, with other languages optional; EAEU rules require applicable Russian-language content. Confirm all artwork with the importer before packing.
| Bulk | Retail-packed (≤ 3 kg) | |
|---|---|---|
| HS — green and white | 0902.20 | 0902.10 |
| HS — oolong and black | 0902.40 | 0902.30 |
| Packing | Multiwall paper sacks, cartons | Cartons, tins, pouches, tea bags, sachets |
| Labelling law | Applicable product information and trade documents | Applicable consumer-facing and trade information |
| Label languages | Check destination and presentation | Arabic Morocco · Russian EAEU · verify each other market |
| Shelf-life statement | Certificate of analysis | Printed on pack |
| Who owns the brand | Importer | Importer (private label) or exporter |
| Price set by | The grade market | The brand and the shelf |
Versus
Why does 3 kg matter so much?
The 3 kg threshold changes the HS subheading for tea in immediate packings and can affect duty. It is not a universal dividing line for labelling or certification. A 200 g retail carton and a 30 kg wholesale sack have different presentation and distribution needs, so assess the destination's product-information rules for each and price packing and compliance work explicitly.
What sets the price of packed tea?
Packed tea is priced by the brand and the shelf it sits on; bulk tea is priced by the grade market — USD 3,043.4 per tonne into Morocco in 2025. That is why packing is quoted as its own specification, not as an add-on.
Is a private-label tea programme worth it?
A private-label programme is worth it when the margin on your own brand covers the costs that bulk does not carry: printed packaging with its minimum runs, stock of finished packs for each SKU, label compliance for each market, and the marketing that moves the packs. With few SKUs, steady volume per SKU and a channel that already sells, it usually pays; with many SKUs and uncertain sell-through, printed stock becomes the risk. Model it per SKU before committing.
Frequently asked
Does packing change the HS code for tea?
What language must retail tea labels use in Morocco?
Mandatory food-label information must be in Arabic. Another language, such as French, may be added, but confirm the exact content and format with the Moroccan importer against current ONSSA rules.
What does the EAEU require on a tea label?
Mandatory content under TR CU 022/2011, in Russian, with the EAC mark and a registered Declaration of Conformity.
When is bulk tea a better choice than retail-packed tea?
Bulk supply can fit buyers with sufficient volume, compliant local packing, quality control and a clear brand or foodservice use. Retail-packed supply can reduce local packing work and simplify smaller programmes. Compare total landed cost, waste, shelf life, label responsibility, inventory risk and operational capacity rather than pack price alone.
Is private label tea always more profitable than selling an existing brand?
No. Private label can offer control and differentiation, but profitability depends on development, packaging, compliance, minimum production, freight, marketing, inventory and sell-through. An existing brand may carry different fees and less control. Build a full landed-cost and sales model before choosing, and keep unverified margin assumptions out of the supplier quotation.
Next step
Deciding between Bulk tea and Retail-packed tea?
Send the destination and the quantity. ODM Tea answers with the one that fits and the clauses that go with it.