Chinese tea volume into Russia fell 19.2% year-to-date in 2025, by an industry count, with green tea at 68% of the mix.
- Volume from China15,900 t (-19.2%)
- Grades boughtWhite tea — Bai Mu Dan, Oolong — Tie Guan Yin, Black — Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine green
- Regulatory referenceEAEU TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011
- RouteNovorossiysk / St Petersburg / rail via Zabaykalsk
What do the numbers say about Russia?
Chinese tea volume into Russia fell 19.2% to 15.9 million kg year-to-date, with the mix at 68% green and 14% specialty. Russia's own volume from China fell 19.2% over the same period, while China's total export volume grew 11.9% and its average export price fell 2.7%.
| Measure | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Import volume from China | 15,900 tonnes (15.90 million kg) | -19.2% |
Source: Firsd Tea — China Tea Report · Period 2025 year-to-date
Which grades does Russia buy?
Russia buys White tea — Bai Mu Dan, Oolong — Tie Guan Yin, Black — Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine green. ODM Tea quotes those origin categories by name, where the garden and the grade both matter to the buyer.
White Tea
Bought by origin name in Russian and North American specialty channels, where the plucking standard sets the grade.
Oolong Tea
Fujian ships two thirds of China's oolong exports; the cultivar, origin county and roast level are named on the contract.
Black Tea
The category first made in Tongmu, Wuyishan: Lapsang Souchong, Jin Jun Mei and Tanyang Gongfu, smoked or unsmoked as the contract states.
Green Tea
Fujian's second-largest export category by volume, and the unscented base under every jasmine grade on this site.
Jasmine Tea
Fuzhou is the reference origin for scented tea; the contract states the scenting rounds, the base grade and whether blossom stays in the finished tea.
Organic Programme
For buyers that require certified production, traceability and destination-specific residue controls. Certification scope is confirmed per quotation.
Private Label & Packing
The same leaf ships under your own brand once the pack carries the destination's mandatory label content and the duty line that goes with it.
What has to be on the contract for Russia?
The grade code with its suffix, moisture at or below the trade specification, the residue standard named by jurisdiction, the packing net weight, and the Incoterm. For Russia the residue standard is EAEU TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011. On a Russia contract that also means naming White tea — Bai Mu Dan, the route (Novorossiysk / St Petersburg / rail via Zabaykalsk), and label text in Russian. Residue is the clause that stops containers at the destination, and it is the one most often left generic.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Novorossiysk / St Petersburg / rail via Zabaykalsk |
| Typical transit | Confirmed per booking in the quotation — no indicative range is published |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB, CFR, CIF |
| Load ports | Ningbo, Shanghai |
| Regulatory reference | EAEU TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011 |
| Label languages | Russian |
| Document pack (confirmed per destination) | Commercial invoice and packing list; Bill of lading; Certificate of origin (in the form the destination requires); Phytosanitary certificate; Health certificate; Pesticide residue test report; Certificate of analysis (moisture, ash, fannings) |
Further reading on Russia
Reference pieces covering Russia and the grades it buys. Each one carries the sources for the figures it quotes, so a specification can be lifted straight out of it.
China's tea exports grew 11.9% in 2025 — and the average price fell
Volume rose 11.9% and the average price fell 2.7%. The category and destination tables show where each number came from.
Exporting tea to Russia: TR CU 021, TR CU 022 and EAC marking
Chinese tea volume into Russia fell in 2025 by an industry count. The category mix shows where the remaining business sits.
HS code 0902: tea classification and the 3 kg rule
The most expensive mistake in tea documentation is not the grade code. It is assuming packing size does not change the tariff line.
White tea grades: Yin Zhen, Bai Mu Dan, Gong Mei, Shou Mei
White tea is the only major Chinese category where grade is decided almost entirely in the field, before any processing decision is made.
Frequently asked
How much Chinese tea does Russia import?
Russia imported 15,900 tonnes of Chinese tea in 2025 year-to-date, down 19.2%. Chinese tea volume into Russia fell 19.2% to 15.9 million kg year-to-date, with the mix at 68% green and 14% specialty. Figures are from Firsd Tea — China Tea Report for the period 2025 year-to-date.
Which tea grades does Russia buy?
White tea — Bai Mu Dan, Oolong — Tie Guan Yin, Black — Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine green. Grade choice follows the preparation and the price point the market actually retails at, not the exporter's preference.
What regulations apply to tea imported into Russia?
EAEU TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011. Residue testing should be specified against Russia's limit rather than the Chinese national limit, because maximum residue limits are set independently by each jurisdiction.
How does tea reach Russia?
Novorossiysk / St Petersburg / rail via Zabaykalsk. Loading is from Ningbo or Shanghai. Transit time is confirmed per booking in the quotation; no indicative range is published on this site.
What kinds of Chinese tea does Russia buy?
68% green tea, 14% black tea, 14% specialty including oolong and dark tea, and 4% jasmine.
How do you find tea importers in Russia?
Start from public records rather than bought lists. Tea sold in Russia needs a registered Declaration of Conformity, and the unified register of declarations kept by Rosaccreditation names the applicant — usually the importer or its representative registered in the EAEU. Check a candidate in the Russian company register before sending samples, and treat any list of importers as a starting point, not evidence.
Last updated: 26 September 2026
Next step
Quote a shipment to Russia.
Give us the grade, the quantity and the Incoterm. We answer with a specification, a residue testing plan and a lead time.