The Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) reported that black tea imports increased from 7 million kgs worth US$16.9 million last July to 14.21 million kg worth US$29 million this July, nearly doubling last year’s figures.

The sharp increase could be attributed to the illegal trade routes crossing the Pakistan-Afghan border being blocked by US paramilitary forces battling extremists in the region, bringing illegal tea imports down to the same level as legitimate imports. 

Currently, Pakistan is the world’s third largest tea importer, with black tea imported from 21 countries, the majority from Kenya, and green tea imported mainly from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.