• Home
  • About ITC
    • ITC History
    • ITC Members
    • ITC Publications
    • FAQs
  • Web Summary
    • Web Summary
    • Login
    • Password recovery
    • Register for Web Summary
  • Directory
  • Contact
You are here: Home / ITC History

ITC History

In the early 1920s, world exports of tea were around 310,000 metric tons per annum. Of this, 75% came from British plantations in India and Ceylon and 9%, from Dutch producers in the Netherlands East Indies. During this time, the United Kingdom absorbed 60% of total world tea exports.

However, in the Netherlands East Indies, tea production increased dramatically and exports from Java/Sumatra grew from 35000 tons in 1921 to 72000 tons at the end of the decade.

In 1929, the British and Dutch producers, fearful of a world surplus and a subsequent drop in tea prices, agreed to restrict crop and exports on a voluntary basis. Unfortunately, the agreement was abandoned in 1931 with the British blaming the Dutch for failing to hold back the sale of smallholder leaf tea and for not bringing down exports.

The British government, in an attempt to reinforce the position of its producers brought back import duty on tea with a higher levy placed on tea from outside the Commonwealth. In addition, exports were increased to markets outside the UK and the public were strongly encouraged through an advertising campaign to ‘Buy British’. However, growth of production and exports from Java/Sumatra continued, the world market was unable to absorb the additional stocks and supplies causing average prices of tea in London to fall to nine and a half pence per pound, whilst in Amsterdam, tea prices were lower still.

An increasing friction between the British and Dutch Tea Associations, and the prospect of a further decline in the market, prompted further negotiations to find a solution to the problem.

The International Tea Committee (ITC) was a result of these negotiations and was set up in 1933 by representatives of the tea growers in India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia) to administer the Regulation Scheme under the terms of the International Tea Agreement, concluded on 9th February 1933, with the approval and support of the Governments of each of the three participating countries. In addition to its function as administrator of the regulation scheme, the ITC was to collect and compile statistics and information relating to tea production, exports, consumption and stocks in the producing countries as well as in all other countries.

The scheme stayed in place until 31st March 1955 and was not thereafter renewed, but an agreement was reached between the governments of the participating countries for the continuance of the International tea Committee as a centre for the collection and publication of statistics and other information relating to tea.

In 1979, full membership of the ITC was extended to include consumer countries and subsequently, new categories for Associate and Corporate members were introduced. In 1986 the ITC became a limited company.

The International Tea Committee has been providing the tea industry with valuable statistical information for over 80 years and is supported by many of the major tea producing and consumer nations in the world. We aim to continue to produce timely, accurate, impartial data and to remain the definitive source of information for the industry.

Full & Associate Member Web Links

Producing Country Full Members
Tea Board of India
Sri Lanka Tea Board
Indonesia Tea Board
Agriculture & Food Authority – Tea Directorate, Kenya
The Tea Association of Malawi
Bangladesh Tea Board
China Chamber of Commerce of Import Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal by-products
Tea Board of Tanzania

Consuming Country Full Members
Tea Association of the USA, Inc.
Tea & Herbal Association of Canada
Irish Tea Trade Association
Protea Association of Italy

Associate Members
Agri-Food Directorate Farming & Food Sectors and Trade, DEFRA, UK
Japan Tea Association
Uganda Tea Association
China Tea Marketing Association
Japan Tea Central Association
World Green Tea Association
Russian Association of Tea & Coffee Producers
East African Tea Trade Association
Indian Tea Association
Tea Research Association
United Planters' Association of South India
Tea Association of India
Tea Association of Tanzania
Flaveurs de Thé - Lydia Gautier
Rize Commodity Exchange (Rize Ticaret Borsasi)
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
Korea Black Tea Association
The Tea Road (China) Cooperative
United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association Ltd.

Copyright © The International Tea Committee

All contents of this website are copyright of The International Tea Committee. All Rights Reserved, save where otherwise indicated, in which cases such elements of content are published and/or used under licence by The International Tea Committee.

Trademark usage

“The International Tea Committee” logo is the property of International Tea Committee. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used on or in relation to this website are the property of their respective owners.

Reproduction

No part of this website may be copied or reproduced in any form or any media whatsoever, without the express permission of The International Tea Committee.

Copyright © 2023 The International Tea Committee · Producing timely, accurate, impartial tea statistics for over 80 years