Responding to Deepening Procurement Difficulties Amidst the Matcha Boom. Japan Matcha Export Organization (JMEX) Fully Launches Stable Procurement Service for Commercial Powdered Matcha. Expanding Wholesale and Export Services with Direct Connections to 80 Domestic Companies and Exports to 40 Countries.

Japan Matcha Export Organization Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Akira Kato; hereinafter "JMEX"), which handles the wholesale and export of matcha, has officially launched its wholesale and export services as a stable procurement hub for commercial and export-oriented powdered matcha and tencha. Due to the rapid expansion of global matcha demand, particularly overseas, the production of tencha, the raw material, has surged domestically. However, it has become increasingly difficult for commercial buyers to "secure the necessary quantity, with the required quality, at a stable price" year by year. JMEX will function as a one-stop solution to these matcha procurement challenges, leveraging its direct transaction network with over 80 producers and processors across 7 major domestic production regions and its export track record to over 40 countries.

■ Background to Service Launch: Deepening Supply-Demand Tightness in the Matcha Market

Image citation: Green Tea Export Value in 2025 Reaches Record High of 72.1 Billion Yen, Double the Previous Year, Marking 6 Consecutive Years of Growth, Global Matcha Boom Continues - Shizuoka Shimbun (https://news.at-s.com/article/1898420)

① Green Tea Export Value Reaches Record High of Approximately 72.1 Billion Yen in 2025 (Double the Previous Year)

According to the Ministry of Finance's "Trade Statistics" (published February 2026), the export value of green tea in 2025 reached approximately 72.1 billion yen, doubling from 36.4 billion yen in 2024. This export growth is driven by the matcha boom in Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, with matcha (powdered and raw material) being the main category within overall green tea exports.

② Tencha Production Increases by Approximately 40% in 2 Years, Accelerating Conversion to Matcha Raw Material

Production of tencha, the raw material for matcha, is rapidly expanding in major producing regions such as Kyoto, Shizuoka, and Kagoshima. According to a Kyoto Shimbun report (dated November 20, 2025, citing Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries statistics), tencha production in 2024 increased by +40.1% compared to 2022, a nearly 40% increase in just two years. In Kagoshima Prefecture, the conversion to tencha production is particularly noticeable, supported by its position as the top producer of aracha (crude tea) for two consecutive years nationwide.

③ Still, Global Matcha Demand Outpaces Supply

Despite the rapid expansion of tencha production, the growth in global matcha demand is proceeding at an even faster pace. Due to the nature of the tea industry, where it takes several years from tea garden establishment to harvest, there are limits to short-term production increases. As a result, commercial buyers are facing the following challenges:

- Cafes and Restaurant Chains: Facing significant fluctuations in procurement prices, forcing them to review menu prices and recipes.
- Food Manufacturers and OEM Businesses: Finding it difficult to secure stable annual procurement volumes, leading to delays in new product development.
- Overseas Buyers: Seeking Japanese matcha suppliers who can offer stable prices, quality, and supply volume.

JMEX will fully deploy this service as a one-stop procurement hub to simultaneously solve these three challenges: "unpredictable prices," "inability to secure sufficient quantities," and "inconsistent quality per lot."

■ Service Features

① Procurement Network with Direct Transactions with Over 80 Companies in 7 Major Domestic Production Regions

JMEX has direct contracts with producers and processors in Kyoto Uji, Kagoshima, Shizuoka, Fukuoka Yame, Aichi Nishio, Miyazaki, and Mie. This establishes a system that allows for alternative procurement from multiple regions, diversifying the risk of dependence on a single production area. This ensures a stable year-round supply of both powdered matcha and tencha.

② Optimal Matching of Grades for Specific Uses

JMEX proposes optimal grades tailored to customer needs, such as for tea ceremony (ceremonial grade), usucha (thin tea), matcha lattes, sweets and bakeries, and food processing. This helps eliminate cost losses, such as using high-grade matcha for lattes or drinking-grade matcha for processing, and supports the optimization of use and price.

③ Export Capability Through Procurement from Certified Manufacturing Partners

JMEX partners with manufacturing partners who have obtained various certifications, including Organic JAS, FDA, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HALAL, Kosher, and GMP. This allows for procurement through certified routes that meet the regulatory requirements of the export destination country and the issuance of COAs (Certificates of Analysis). For businesses new to exporting, JMEX also provides support for customs documents and certificates of origin.

④ Small Start Support from MOQ 10kg and Free 20g Samples

The minimum order quantity is 10kg. Free 20g samples are also available for each SKU. This enables continuous supply of stable quality and price, regardless of scale, from small cafes to large food manufacturers.

See service overview here:

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■ Comment from Representative Director Akira Kato

Representative Director Akira Kato

"From Japan's matcha, to the world."

As public statistics show, the market environment surrounding matcha is at a structural turning point. Green tea exports