What this market covers
Tea based drink with tapioca pearls or other chewy toppings, served cold and sweet. Young consumers buy it from specialist shops and chains.
Typical segments
- Milk tea
- Fruit tea
- Tapioca pearls and toppings
- Ready to drink bubble tea
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +20% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +40% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €14.5 million of products under CN code 19030000 (Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch, in the form of flakes, grains,) from outside the EU in 2025. | 14.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 19030000 were up 20% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€12.1 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +20 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 19030000 to countries outside the EU were worth €2.1 million in 2025. | 2.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 19030000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €14.7 million in 2025. | 14.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 19030000 to the EU in 2025, with €3.5 million, or 24% of extra-EU imports. | 3.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 19030000 to the United States were €736 thousand in 2025. | 736 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 19030000 was €1.31 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 1.31 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| France was the largest EU exporter of CN 19030000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €1.3 million. | 1.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 494,141 enterprises in NACE class I5630 (Beverage serving activities) in 2023. | 494,141 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class I5630 had net turnover of €82.81 billion in 2023. | 82.81 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class I5630 employed 1,747,020 people across the EU in 2023. | 1,747,020 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 87,158 private establishments in NAICS 722515 (Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) in 2025. | 87,158 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 722515 employed an average of 991,316 people in US private industry in 2025. | 991,316 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 722515 changed by +40% between 2020 (708,124 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +40 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 722515 was $25,036 in 2025. | 25,036 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 14483006
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 12100524; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 14483006
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2144595
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 14685010
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3470154
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 736413
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 19030000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 14483006, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 110481
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter FR, product 19030000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1295610
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 I5630, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 494141
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 I5630, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 82814
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 I5630, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 1747020
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 722515, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 722515, annual_avg_estabs 87158
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 722515, annual_avg_emplvl 991316
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 708124; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 991316
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 722515, avg_annual_pay 25036
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Tea shop chains
- Consumers
- Cafes
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU bubble tea market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €14.5 million of goods under CN 19030000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €2.1 million.
Where does the EU import bubble tea from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Thailand, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire.
What is the average import price of bubble tea in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €1.31 per kilogram for CN 19030000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most bubble tea?
France led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Ireland.
How many US companies are in the bubble tea industry?
BLS counts 87,158 private establishments in NAICS 722515 (Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the bubble tea industry?
Eurostat counts 494,141 enterprises in NACE class I5630 (Beverage serving activities).
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