Explosive demand, matcha price increases dramatically

VTV.vn - The price of Japanese matcha is expected to increase by up to 70% this year, due to adverse weather, high tariffs and global demand far exceeding supply.

Matcha prices are soaring globally due to bad weather in Japan, rising global demand, labor shortages and high tariffs imposed by the US on imports from Japan and China. Matcha lovers may now be more hesitant to buy the product.

Hailed as a superfood, matcha has been splashed across social media and embraced by cafes from Tokyo to Los Angeles. Experts say this year’s harvest simply won’t be able to keep up with the global craze.

“We’ve always said matcha is growing, but certainly in the last year or two there has been an exponential and unprecedented growth in demand,” said Aaron Vick, senior tea buyer.

Matcha, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, is now being consumed in beverages and desserts around the world. One shop in San Francisco, for example, sells hundreds of cups of matcha every day, and hundreds of pounds of matcha are consumed every month or two.

"The price of matcha has skyrocketed, at one point the price we imported more than doubled and we completely did not expect that," said Mr. David Lau - Tea shop owner.

The price of Japanese matcha is expected to increase by as much as 70% this year, driven by bad weather in Japan, rising global demand, and labor shortages in both Japan and China.

US tariffs are also adding to the pressure: 15% on Japanese matcha and nearly 38% on matcha from China. With supplies tight and demand still rising, the world’s love of matcha is about to face a test, right at the cash register.

Source: https://vtv.vn/nhu-cau-bung-no-gia-matcha-tang-soc-100250925150013609.htm