Tea trading volumes soar at China International Tea Expo

HANGZHOU - The volume of tea trade at the second China International Tea Expo increased from 67.8 million yuan last year to 103 million yuan ($16.2 million).

More than 4,000 orders were signed and nearly 100 tons of tea were sold during the five day event, held in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

More than 1,500 Chinese and overseas tea enterprises participated in the expo that closed Tuesday, which was attended by more than 150,000 visitors, according to the organizer.

Chiranjaya Udumullage, an exhibitor from Sri Lanka, brought different kinds of black tea to the expo and said the prospects for Sri Lankan black tea in the Chinese market are very bright.

The expo was jointly held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the provincial government of Zhejiang.

Besides the tea trade, it included conferences, forums, and dialogues related to tea, with an aim to promote the development of the tea industry worldwide, said Peng Jiaxue, vice-governor of Zhejiang.

The third China International Tea Expo is expected to be held in the city in May next year.