Sri Lanka Sourcing Guide

Import Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka to USA

What it takes to source Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka and bring it into the United States: tariff treatment, import requirements, shipping times and indicative pricing, with a free route to quotes from verified exporters.

Import from Sri Lanka to the US: every product, one page →

Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka
ProductCeylon TeaHS 0902
Indicative FOB$3.50–6.50 / kggrade-dependent
Tariff routeMFN / GSP*see below
Sea transit~4–6 wksfrom Colombo

USA is one of Sri Lanka’s largest export markets, taking US$2,882 million of goods in 2024 (UN Comtrade). Fresh Ceylon Tea crop typically lands year-round, with quality peaks Jan–Mar and Jul–Sep, see the harvest calendar.

Why source Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka

“Ceylon” is a globally protected mark of origin for Sri Lankan tea, sold through the transparent Colombo Tea Auction. Buyers can source by elevation (high / medium / low grown) and grade (BOP, BOPF, OP, FBOP, dust) with consistent quality and a clean, well-documented supply chain.

Forms & grades: Black, green and specialty teas by elevation and leaf grade; bulk or private-label. Browse current listings on our Ceylon Tea category page.

Duty & tariff treatment for USA

The US GSP program lapsed at the end of 2020 and has seen periodic reauthorization efforts. Confirm its current status before relying on it. In practice many Ceylon products already enter at low or zero standard (MFN) duty: black tea (HS 0902) is generally duty-free, and several spices carry little or no duty. Verify your exact line in the US HTS.

Standard commercial documents establish origin; if GSP is in force, a claim is made on entry. Always confirm the current HTS duty rate for your specific product and form.

Always confirm the current rate. Tariffs and preference schemes change. Check your exact HS line in the US HTS tariff lookup, and estimate duty + freight + insurance together with our landed-cost calculator. We don’t publish line-item tariff figures because they move and depend on your precise product and origin proof.

Import requirements for USA

Typical requirements for bringing Ceylon Tea into the United States include:

  • FDA food-facility registration for the producer and Prior Notice of each shipment.
  • A US importer subject to FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) responsibilities.
  • FDA labeling compliance; for organic goods, USDA-NOP recognized certification.

Your exporter prepares the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin; see our export documents checklist for the full set.

Certificates this market asks for

Lists of Sri Lankan suppliers holding each one, taken from the scheme’s own public register. A certificate covers named products, so our Trade Desk confirms it covers your order.

Shipping & lead time from Colombo

Roughly 4–6 weeks by sea from Colombo to US East/West Coast ports; air freight for samples and time-critical lots. Most Ceylon Tea moves FOB Colombo or CIF USA. Agree the Incoterm up front so responsibilities are clear. Estimate ocean freight and your landed cost with the freight & landed-cost calculator.

Indicative pricing

Ceylon Tea is indicatively $3.50–6.50 / kg FOB, varying by grade, order volume, packaging and certification. Track current reference ranges on our Ceylon commodity prices page, then get a firm, current quote for your exact specification below.

Get quotes to import Ceylon Tea into USA

Tell us your grade, volume and destination. We’ll match you with verified Sri Lankan Ceylon Tea exporters and get you firm FOB/CIF quotes, free, no obligation.

Request quotes →

Want to check quality first? Order a sample. Or, for a Sri Lankan grocery store, see grocery wholesale.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka duty-free into USA?

The US GSP program lapsed at the end of 2020 and has seen periodic reauthorization efforts. Confirm its current status before relying on it. In practice many Ceylon products already enter at low or zero standard (MFN) duty: black tea (HS 0902) is generally duty-free, and several spices carry little or no duty. Verify your exact line in the US HTS. Confirm the exact rate for your HS line via the US HTS tariff lookup, or estimate your full landed cost with our landed-cost calculator.

What does Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka cost?

Indicatively $3.50–6.50 / kg FOB, depending on grade, volume and certification. See live ranges on our Ceylon commodity prices page, then request a firm quote.

How long does shipping from Colombo take?

Roughly 4–6 weeks by sea from Colombo to US East/West Coast ports; air freight for samples and time-critical lots.

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