South African Rooibos Exports Hit Record 10,930 Tonnes

A tea that grows in only one place on the planet just proved the world can't get enough of it.

Rooibos exports from South Africa's Cederberg region crossed 10,000 tonnes for the first time in 2025, nearly doubling the 5,900 tonnes shipped a decade earlier. Japan remains the biggest buyer, while Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and China are rapidly growing markets for the naturally sweet, caffeine-free tea.

The Cederberg's unique climate and soil give rooibos its distinct flavor, something that can't be replicated anywhere else. This single-origin status makes the tea special, but it also means the entire global supply depends on one region facing hotter, drier conditions.

Farmers like Richard Bowsher are turning climate challenges into opportunities. His family-owned Klipopmekaar farm became one of the largest organic rooibos producers by focusing on soil health from day one of his 18-year farming career.

By switching to regenerative farming methods, Bowsher's team trapped so much carbon in their soil that they're now carbon net-negative. That means their farm removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it produces, even counting processing, packing, and shipping worldwide.

Third-party soil analysts confirmed the farm has stored enough carbon to operate as carbon net-zero for the next 80 years. European buyers especially value this, as new EU sustainability laws now consider the carbon footprint of imported goods.

The Bright Side

While production dipped from 17,000 tonnes in 2023 to 15,000 tonnes in 2025, industry leaders aren't worried. "Rooibos is not a volume-driven commodity," says Dawie de Villiers, chairperson of the South African Rooibos Council. "Its long-term value lies in quality, origin integrity and responsible stewardship."

The tea industry has always managed supply through stockpiling during abundant years. When harvests fall short, those reserves keep the global market supplied.

Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo of the Agricultural Business Chamber agrees that rooibos' distinct character protects it from competition. "South African rooibos is distinct, and its supply constraint at particular points is not necessarily a hindrance," he explains.

Beyond carbon farming, producers are experimenting with techniques to help the resilient crop thrive on minimal moisture. Research partnerships between farmers and scientists are developing practices that could sustain rooibos production for generations.

The combination of record exports, premium quality positioning, and innovative climate-smart farming shows how a heritage product can adapt and flourish even as conditions change.

South Africa's farming sector exported a record $15.1 billion in agricultural products in 2025, with rooibos punching above its weight as a beloved ambassador for quality over quantity.