Tea being processed in Tam Chau Tea-Coffee Company in Central Highlands Lam Dong Province. Viet Nam shipped more than 115,000 tonnes of tea within the first 10 months of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyet

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam has shipped more than 115,000 tonnes of tea within the first 10 months of 2013, earning US$186.6 million, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The country's tea exports saw a 5.5 per cent decline in terms of volume and a 0.2 per cent decrease in value over the same period last year.

Of note, Pakistan remained Viet Nam's largest tea importer during the period, having purchased over 17,000 tonnes of tea worth $34.6 million.

However, the import turnover dropped 11 per cent in volume and 18 per cent in value compared with the corresponding period last year and accounted for 18.5 per cent of the total export value.

Taiwan was the second-largest tea importer, having purchased 19,500 tonnes, valued at $26.5 million, an increase of 2 per cent and 6 per cent in terms of volume and value, respectively.

Russia followed the top two, with 9,800 tonnes of tea, producing turnover of $15.9 million.

Tea exports to Poland, the United States and India maintained their growth rate from the same period last year, holding 19 per cent, 24.8 per cent and 31.1 per cent, respectively.

According to the Viet Nam Tea Association, some 90 per cent of Vietnamese tea was exported in the form of raw materials and only 10 per cent left the country as a finished product. — VNS