China exported 289,000 tons of tea in 2007, a slight rise of 1 percent, according to the latest statistics released by the General Administration of Customs.

However, the export value jumped 11 percent year on year to $610 million.

China exported 58,000 and 20,000 tons of tea to Morocco and the European Union in 2007 respectively, up 1.4 percent and 13.6 percent from the previous year. Its exports to Japan was 25,000 tons, down 8.4 percent, said the administration.

The European Union and Japan lifted requirement for pesticide and fertilizer residue, which led to the tea export slow-down, explained the administration.

Green tea exports hit 224,000 tons last year, up 2.3 percent year on year, while black tea exports decreased by 4.0 percent to 30,000 tons.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2008)