Bangladesh's tea output for 2016 grew by nearly 27% over the previous year to a record 85 million kg, and this may be enough of a rise to mean that the country no longer needs to import tea from elsewhere. Domestic consumption has been rising at a rate of more than 3% per year as the economy grows, and has now reached a total of 81.6 million kg sold annually through the Chittagong auctions to mainly Bangledeshi buyers and packers.
With strong demand for quality leaf and rising sales at the last auction of the 2016/17 season, held March 21, prices rose slightly, even though more tea was on offer. In 2016, Bangladesh exported 510,000 kg of tea in 2016 (down from 550,000 kg in 2012). Main export destinations are Pakistan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh imports tea from India and Thailand.