News article
Uji tea market hits record 12.94 billion yen on global matcha boom; wholesalers worry price surge will drive consumers away
Uji tea's trading volume reached 12.94 billion yen in the 2026 season (April 24–July 31), a historic high driven by global matcha demand. Tencha output hit 595 tonnes, the largest since the market's 1974 opening, with machine-harvested tencha commanding 10.1 billion yen at an average 17,250 yen/kg—the highest on record since 1996. However, tea wholesalers express concern that steep price rises across all categories will price out ordinary consumers and accelerate tea consumpt…
「世界的抹茶ブーム」宇治茶の取引総額、過去最高129億4000万円…一方で茶問屋危惧「消費者が適正価格で買えなくなれば茶離れが」 - 読売新聞
Key points
- Uji tea market trading totaled 12.94 billion yen in FY2026, the highest ever recorded.
- Tencha production reached 595 tonnes, surpassing all previous years since market opening in 1974.
- Machine-harvested tencha averaged 17,250 yen/kg, the highest price since records began in 1996.
- Gyokuro, sencha, and kabusecha prices rose 30%–more than double year-on-year due to tencha production shift.
- Kyoto tea wholesalers fear steep pricing will alienate consumers and deepen tea-drinking decline.
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About this article
The numbers
Uji tea market trading total: ¥12.94 billion
Tencha production (hand and machine harvest combined): 595 tonnes
Machine-harvested tencha trading value: ¥10.1 billion
Machine-harvested tencha average unit price: ¥17,250/kg
What they said
“If consumers can no longer afford tea at reasonable prices, I fear tea consumption will decline further.”
「消費者が適正な価格で買えなくなれば、茶離れが進むのではないかと危惧している」
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