Pakistanis continue to show a strong taste for tea, spending Rs 106 billion on the beverage alone in the first seven months of the 2025-26 fiscal year (July–January).
Official trade figures released as part of broader import data show this level of expenditure underlines how deeply tea drinking is woven into everyday life in Pakistan’s households.
Tea features high among imported food items, even as the broader food import bill has risen with other key commodities like edible oils, dairy products, spices, and nuts. Total food imports have climbed significantly, reflecting both rising domestic demand and higher international prices.
The Rs 106 billion figure on tea spending places it as one of the larger individual components of the food import category. It reflects not just traditional consumption patterns but also Pakistan’s reliance on imported tea leaves, since domestic production remains limited compared with demand. In dollar terms, this represents a notable outflow of foreign exchange, adding pressure to the trade deficit and foreign reserves.
Economists say the continued high spending on tea and other imported foods highlights two broad trends. First, consumer demand for these items remains strong even as prices and the cost of imports stay high.
Second, limited growth in local production for items like tea leaves means reliance on overseas markets remains. A nationwide tea culture, with multiple cups consumed daily in many homes, contributes to this pattern.
As policymakers look at ways to manage the trade gap and conserve foreign exchange, they may consider strategies that support local agriculture and alternative sources for commonly consumed imports.
Without such measures, expenditures like the Rs 106 billion on tea could continue to be a significant driver of Pakistan’s import bill.
