Dan Bolton

3 weeks ago | stir-tea-coffee.com | Dan Bolton

Kenya has suspended Rainforest Alliance (RA) audits, in-person inspections, and new certifications for the country's tea factories nationwide, citing high costs levied on farmers.   Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh halted audits and new certifications at all tea factories, including those of independent producers, pending what he called “a further joint resolution of the matter.” This is likely to involve creating a self-regulated alternative to third-party certifiers.

1 month ago | stir-tea-coffee.com | Dan Bolton

The mutual decision by China and the US to reduce tariffs for 90 days while negotiating a “new normal” is sufficient to resume trade that was virtually halted as US duties climbed to 152.5% on imported tea. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced on May 12 that the US rate on Chinese goods would be reduced by 115% to 30%. China agreed to also lower its 125% rate by 115% to 10%. The two sides canceled 91% of tariffs on each other’s goods and suspended another 24% for 90 days.

2 months ago | stir-tea-coffee.com | Dan Bolton

New style tea chain Chagee Holding’s NASDAQ listing generated $411 million on April 17, marking the most successful Chinese consumer company IPO since 2021. Chagee was valued at $6.2 billion as shares topped $33.75 post-IPO, a 21% increase over the initial public offering. Shares of Chagee’s IPO were priced at $28 under the ticker CHA. The company, founded in 2017, generated $1.71 billion (¥12.41 billion) in revenue in 2024, up from ¥10.8 billion in 2023, according to required SEC filings.

2 months ago | stir-tea-coffee.com | Dan Bolton

Spending at US-based tradeshows ($15.8 billion) exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2024, but with fewer exhibitors, fewer net square feet of exhibit space, two million fewer attendees, and less real revenue* The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) combines these metrics quarterly to calculate an exhibition industry index, which is still 10 points below 2019 benchmarks.

2 months ago | stir-tea-coffee.com | Dan Bolton

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, tea exports in 2024 increased to 374,100 metric tons, generating $1.42 billion in revenue —a decline of 18.4% compared to 2023, when tea exports totaled $1.74 billion. The average export price per kilo declined sharply by 19.8% to $3.80 per kilo in 2024. Seven of China’s top 10 trading partners in 2024 paid less per kilo for Chinese tea than in 2023. China held a 14.2% revenue share of the global tea market in 2023.