Matcha Wholesale Price USA (2026): Grade, Drivers, Duty & How to Lock a Quote
The honest answer on matcha wholesale price USA buyers most need to hear is this: there is no neutral public benchmark for wholesale matcha priced per kilogram by grade. The “$X/kg” tables you see are individual suppliers’ own quoted ranges, not verified market data. What you can anchor decisions to is the direction of the raw-material market and the real cost drivers — and in 2025 those moved sharply. This guide explains what actually sets your price and how to lock a stable quote instead of chasing a number.
Key Takeaways
- Kyoto tencha auction prices hit a record in 2025, up about 170% year-on-year (Reuters) — the single biggest force on wholesale matcha cost.
- Wholesale is quoted per kilogram on an Incoterm (FOB, CIF, DDP) by grade and MOQ; retail tin prices are never a valid proxy.
- Duty is minor: pure bulk matcha (HTS 0902.20.90) is Free; small retail packs (0902.10.10) are 6.4% MFN / 3.2% for Japan.
- Grade, harvest timing, the yen/USD rate, and freight move your price far more than tariffs do.
- Lock a quote against a defined grade, volume, and delivery term — not a headline per-kg figure.
For Companies Seeking Matcha Powder
We source matcha from Japan’s premier production regions including Kyoto Uji, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and Shizuoka, offering comprehensive grade ranges from organic JAS-certified ceremonial grade to processing-grade matcha.
Common Challenges:
- “We have projects but cannot secure stable matcha supply…”
- “We want to incorporate matcha into new café menu items!”
If you face these concerns, consult with Matcha Times. Feel free to contact us for initial inquiries.
＼Read Also／
→ US Matcha Market 2025: Size, Growth Drivers & B2B Entry Strategy for Buyers
Why there is no single “price per kg”
Wholesale matcha is not a commodity with a published spot price. A quote only means something once grade, origin, MOQ, and trade term are fixed. Because suppliers publish their own indicative ranges with different assumptions, comparing bare “$/kg” numbers across sellers is misleading. Treat any quoted range as indicative and supplier-specific, and always ask what grade, Incoterm, and minimum it assumes.
＼Read More／
→ Matcha Wholesale Price per kg 2026: Grade, Origin, MOQ & Landed Cost
What moves the wholesale price
These are the levers behind a quote. Only one has a hard, sourced number in 2025 — and it is the biggest.
| Driver | Effect on price | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Tencha (raw leaf) cost | Dominant input | +170% YoY in 2025, record ¥8,235/kg (Reuters) |
| Grade & harvest timing | Higher for first-flush, shaded, stone-milled | Quality-led |
| Yen / USD exchange rate | A weaker yen can offset Japan-side rises | FX-led |
| Trade term & freight | FOB vs CIF vs DDP changes the landed number | Logistics-led |
| Duty | Minor for pure bulk matcha | Free (HTS 0902.20.90, USITC) |
Behind the 2025 spike: Japan’s 2024 tencha output was about 5,336 tons and green-tea exports rose roughly 25% in value, so demand outran a tight supply (Reuters, citing MAFF).
Price by grade: relative, not absolute
Instead of unverifiable dollar figures, understand where each grade sits so you can match spend to use-case.
| Grade | Relative price | Typical B2B use |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremonial | Highest | Premium retail, straight-whisked |
| Premium / latte | Upper-mid | Cafés, specialty drinks |
| Culinary | Mid | Baking, blends, foodservice |
| Ingredient / industrial | Lowest | Manufacturing, RTD, supplements |
A US buyer usually over-pays by specifying a higher grade than the application needs — matching grade to use is the fastest saving. See the MOQ guide for how volume tiers change the per-kg quote, and the customs & duties guide for landed cost.
US duty and the landed-cost view
Duty is a small, knowable part of the price. Classification is what matters.
| Product | HTS heading | General (MFN) duty |
|---|---|---|
| Pure bulk matcha > 3 kg | 0902.20.90 | Free |
| Flavored green tea > 3 kg | 0902.20.10 | 6.4% |
| Retail packs ≤ 3 kg | 0902.10.10 | 6.4% (Japan special 3.2%) |
Verify current lines on the USITC HTS and confirm any additional trade measures with your broker before quoting a landed cost. The demand case is solid: the US matcha market was about US$164.2 million in 2024, growing 8.5% a year (Grand View Research).
What to send when you request a quote
A precise request gets a precise, comparable price. Give every supplier the same brief so the numbers mean the same thing:
| Provide | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Target grade | Grade is the largest quality-driven cost lever |
| Monthly / annual volume | Higher volume unlocks better per-kg tiers |
| Delivery market & Incoterm | FOB, CIF, or DDP changes the landed number |
| Packaging & format | Retail packs cost more than bulk foodservice sizes |
| Certifications needed | Organic / NOP adds cost and lead time |
With those five inputs fixed, a quote becomes a decision tool rather than a guess — and you can compare suppliers on identical terms instead of mismatched ranges.
How to lock a stable price
Volatility is manageable if you buy on specifications rather than spot quotes:
- Define grade, MOQ, and Incoterm before requesting a quote so numbers are comparable.
- Ask for a validity period and a volume commitment to hold pricing.
- Request a sample matched to a production lot so quality — and therefore price — is verified, not assumed.
- Split orders across the year to smooth harvest-driven swings.
Why Buyers Choose JMEX (Japan Matcha Export Organization)
US buyers work with JMEX (the Japan Matcha Export Organization) to turn volatile spot pricing into a stable, specification-based quote.
JMEX quotes wholesale matcha against a defined grade, MOQ, and delivery term, with lot-matched COAs so the quality behind the price is verified — backed by a verified export track record to 43 countries. In a market where raw-material costs swing with the harvest, that means a US buyer locks a number they can plan around instead of a figure that moves weekly.
FAQ: Matcha Wholesale Prices in the USA
The pricing questions US buyers ask most before committing to a bulk order.
Why did wholesale matcha prices jump in 2025?
Kyoto tencha auction prices rose about 170% year-on-year to a record ¥8,235/kg as demand outran a tight harvest (Reuters).
Is matcha duty-free into the US?
Pure bulk matcha (HTS 0902.20.90) is generally Free; retail packs ≤ 3 kg are 6.4% MFN (3.2% for Japan). Verify on the USITC HTS.
Can you give me a price per kg?
Only against a defined grade, MOQ, and Incoterm. Any bare per-kg figure without those conditions is not a reliable wholesale price.
How is wholesale different from retail pricing?
Wholesale is quoted FOB/CIF/DDP per kilogram at a minimum order; retail tin prices include packaging and margin and must never be converted into a wholesale rate.
What is the cheapest way to buy without losing quality?
Match grade to application, commit to volume, and lock a quote with a validity period — see our price-per-kg guide.
Learn More About Global Matcha Trends at Matcha Times
Matcha Times is a specialist media platform covering the global matcha market — sourcing and wholesale, supply and pricing, trade and regulations, production and origins, and the companies shaping the industry.
From market analysis and price trends to café case studies and interviews with tea farmers, we help buyers, importers, distributors, and manufacturers stay ahead of where matcha is heading. Explore more and put the global matcha market to work for your business.
Conclusion
Matcha wholesale pricing in the USA is best understood through drivers, not a single number: raw tencha cost (up sharply in 2025), grade, the yen, and freight — with duty a minor factor for pure bulk matcha. Buy on specifications and lock a quote against a defined grade and volume, and price becomes something you manage rather than chase.
Looking for wholesale or OEM matcha samples? Contact us — we will recommend the optimal origin and grade based on your application and target markets.
Related Articles
→ What Is Matcha Wholesale? A Complete Guide to Suppliers, Pricing & Sourcing
→ How Big Is the U.S. Matcha Market? Cafe, Foodservice, Retail & Wellness Demand Analyzed
