Matcha Wholesale Price in Washington: 2026 Landed Cost, MOQ & Delivery Guide
For a Washington buyer, the wholesale matcha price in Washington is driven far more by grade, order volume and freight than by any single headline number: wholesale Japanese matcha is typically quoted FOB Japan in US dollars per kilogram, and commercial-provider estimates for 2026 put culinary grade in the lower tens of dollars per kg, latte/barista grade in the middle, and ceremonial grade from the higher tens into the low hundreds — with the exact figure depending on the provider, the grade definition and your tier. The good news for landed cost is that unflavored matcha enters the US duty-free under HTS heading 0902, so the main additions on top of FOB are ocean freight, cold-chain handling and inland delivery from the Seattle/Tacoma gateway. This guide gives the current price range, a price-by-grade table, what moves the price, a FOB-versus-landed-cost framework for Washington delivery, how to lock stable pricing, and a neutral supplier checklist — including how JMEX supports buyers on the export side.
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Key Takeaways
- Treat every per-kg figure as a quotation-and-verification item, not a fixed fact: wholesale matcha is quoted FOB Japan in USD/kg and estimates vary by provider, grade definition and order tier.
- Price is set mainly by grade and order volume — ceremonial sits well above latte/barista, which sits above culinary.
- Unflavored matcha enters the United States duty-free under HTS 0902, so the cost gap between FOB and landed is freight, cold-chain handling and inland delivery — not import duty.
- Washington is served by the Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle + Tacoma) as a direct Japan trade lane, which shapes lead time and inland delivery cost.
- As the US importer you carry compliance responsibilities under FDA rules (FSVP + facility registration where applicable) — build that into your cost and supplier choice, not just the unit price.
Researched and reviewed by the Matcha Times Editorial Team, operated by the Japan Matcha Export Organization (JMEX). Last reviewed: 2026-10-03. See our Editorial Policy and Sources & Methodology. Found an error? Tell us.
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What is the current wholesale matcha price in Washington?
The direct answer: there is no single Washington price — wholesale Japanese matcha is quoted FOB Japan in US dollars per kilogram, and what a Washington buyer pays is that FOB price plus freight, handling and inland delivery. Because matcha is imported, the Washington-specific part of the cost is logistics (the Seattle/Tacoma gateway and inland delivery), while the base per-kg price tracks grade, volume and the JPY/USD rate. Commercial-provider estimates for 2026 differ, so use them as a planning range and confirm a current quote for your exact grade and volume.
A realistic way to read the market: compare like-for-like grades at your real order tier, ask for the quote on a named trade condition (FOB, CIF or delivered), and never treat a retail tin price or a one-off 1 kg sample price as your wholesale contract rate. Prices move, and estimates vary by provider and definition, so the current quote always beats last season’s number.
Wholesale matcha price by grade
Grade is the single biggest driver of the per-kg price. The ranges below are indicative wholesale estimates (FOB Japan, USD/kg) compiled from multiple commercial providers for 2026 — they are planning indicators, not official prices, and they vary by provider, grade definition and order tier. Use them to frame a budget, then request a current quote for the specific grade and volume you need.
| Grade | Typical B2B use | Indicative FOB range (USD/kg, 2026 estimates) |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremonial | Premium drinking matcha, tasting menus, high-end retail | Higher tens into the low hundreds per kg |
| Latte / barista | Cafe lattes, RTD and blended drinks, branded foodservice | Middle of the range — above culinary, below ceremonial |
| Culinary | Baking, ice cream, confectionery, protein and food manufacturing | Lower tens of dollars per kg |
Two cautions when reading any grade table. First, grade names are not standardised — one supplier’s “premium” is another’s “ceremonial”, so match on specification (origin, cultivar, particle size, colour) rather than the label. Second, the per-kg price almost always falls as the order tier rises, so a 1 kg sample price overstates what you will pay at a working cafe or manufacturing volume.
What moves the wholesale matcha price
Beyond grade, a handful of factors explain most of the movement in what a Washington buyer pays. Understanding them helps you time orders and read a quote critically:
- Harvest and tencha supply — matcha starts as tencha, and shade-grown first-harvest leaf is limited; tight tencha supply and strong global demand push premium grades up.
- Grade and specification — the grade and specification (origin, cultivar, stone-milled particle size, colour) set the base price before anything else.
- Exchange rate (JPY/USD) — because matcha is quoted in yen or USD, the JPY/USD rate can move your landed cost even when the yen price is unchanged.
- Freight and cold-chain logistics — ocean freight, cold-chain handling and inland delivery from Seattle/Tacoma are real per-kg costs on top of FOB.
- Order volume (MOQ tier) — unit price typically drops as you move from a sample to a working order and again at contract/annual volume.
FOB vs landed cost for Washington delivery
A headline FOB price is not what you actually pay. For a Washington buyer the useful number is the landed cost — the FOB price plus freight, insurance, clearance, duty (if any) and inland delivery. The three sub-sections below break down the components, the US duty and compliance picture, and the Washington logistics that complete the cost.
FOB, CIF and landed cost: what each adds
Make sure every quote names its trade condition so you are comparing like with like. The framework below lists the components — request the actual figures from your supplier and freight forwarder rather than assuming a number, because freight and handling vary by route, season and volume.
| Cost layer | What it covers |
|---|---|
| FOB Japan (per kg) | The matcha itself at the Japanese port of export — the base quote you compare across suppliers |
| Ocean freight & insurance (CIF) | Sea freight to a US West Coast port plus cargo insurance; varies by route, season and volume |
| US customs clearance | Customs entry, broker fee and any inspection — duty itself is free for unflavored HTS 0902 matcha |
| Cold-chain & handling | Temperature-controlled handling and storage that protects matcha colour and flavour |
| Inland delivery in Washington | Trucking from the Seattle/Tacoma gateway to your facility in-state |
US import duty and FSVP for matcha
On duty, the news is simple: unflavored green tea — the heading matcha falls under — is duty-free in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC) (HTS heading 0902, general/MFN rate Free). Confirm the exact sub-line and that your product is unflavored, and check with a customs broker / CBP guidance whether any time-varying country-level measure applies separately; the product duty for plain matcha itself is Free.
Compliance, not duty, is where the real buyer obligation sits. As the US importer you are responsible under the FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) for verifying the food safety of your Japanese supplier, and food-facility registration applies where relevant (for example flavored or further-processed products). Build this into your supplier choice: a supplier who can supply a per-lot COA and accredited testing makes your FSVP obligations far easier to meet.
Washington delivery logistics and lead time
Washington’s advantage is its gateway. The Northwest Seaport Alliance (the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma operating their marine cargo together) is a major container gateway with Japan as a leading trans-Pacific trade lane, which shapes both lead time and inland delivery cost for in-state buyers. For planning, treat transit and clearance time as something to confirm per shipment rather than a fixed promise, and prioritise cold-chain handling so matcha arrives with its colour and flavour intact.
How to lock stable wholesale pricing
Chasing the lowest headline unit price is how buyers end up with unstable supply and surprise landed costs. A more reliable approach locks the whole picture — grade, volume, destination and trade condition — before you commit:
- Fix the specification — agree grade, specification and packaging in writing so repeat orders are priced on the same basis.
- Quote on a clear trade condition — ask for the price on a named trade condition (FOB, CIF or delivered Washington) so quotes are comparable.
- Sample then trial order — request a sample with its COA, then place a small trial order before scaling to recurring volume.
- Agree volume tiers — where possible agree volume tiers or an annual allocation so price and supply are stable across the year.
- Refresh the quote — always work from a current quote for your grade and volume, because estimates age quickly.
How to evaluate a matcha supplier on price and reliability
Rather than ranking brands, evaluate any supplier — a domestic distributor or a Japan-direct exporter — against the same verifiable criteria. The right partner gives you a stable, transparent landed cost, not just a low headline number. Use this checklist to compare on facts you can verify.
| Criterion | What to verify with any supplier |
|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | Quote on a named trade condition (FOB/CIF/delivered) with volume tiers — not one blended number |
| Grade & specification | Origin, cultivar, particle size and colour documented, so price compares like-for-like |
| Per-lot COA & testing | Sensory, microbiological, pesticide/MRL and heavy-metal results from an accredited laboratory |
| FSVP support | Documentation that helps you meet US FDA FSVP verification as the importer |
| Logistics to Washington | Cold-chain handling and a workable route/lead time via the Seattle/Tacoma gateway |
| Supply stability | Confirmed ability to scale from a trial lot to regular volume without grade drift or price shocks |
A fast way to pressure-test a partner is to request a sample, a per-lot COA and a tiered quote together, then compare the delivered-Washington cost rather than the FOB headline. Suppliers who state their trade condition, specification and testing precisely — in writing — are the ones worth scaling with.
Sources & Methodology
This guide synthesises official US trade, customs and food-safety sources and Washington gateway information with Japanese trade context. Per-kg price ranges are commercial-provider estimates (FOB Japan) presented as planning indicators that vary by provider and definition — not official prices; no freight, duty or lead-time figure is asserted as fact, and each is flagged for verification with your supplier, forwarder and customs broker.
- US International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS 0902) — US import duty on green tea / unflavored matcha (HTS heading 0902) = Free (0%) general/MFN rate — accessed 2026 US tariff classification & duty
- US FDA — Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) — US importer responsibility to verify foreign-supplier food safety under FSMA — accessed 2026 US food-import compliance
- US FDA — Registration of Food Facilities — food-facility registration framework relevant to certain tea/processed products — accessed 2026 US FDA facility registration
- US Customs and Border Protection — Importing Basics — importer-of-record and customs entry framework for a US import — accessed 2026 US customs clearance
- Northwest Seaport Alliance (Port of Seattle + Port of Tacoma) — Washington container gateway and Japan trans-Pacific trade lane context for lead time and inland delivery — accessed 2026 Washington port logistics
- Japan MAFF / Ministry of Finance — tea export statistics — Japan green-tea export value/volume (green-tea TOTAL, not matcha-only) for market context — 2024 Japan green tea exports
Why Buyers Choose JMEX (Japan Matcha Export Organization)
One supplier that meets these criteria at a high level is JMEX (Japan Matcha Export Organization), a wholesale and export partner dedicated to bringing Japanese matcha overseas. It designs origin selection, quality assurance, export documentation, and logistics as one continuous flow, built for export from the start.
With a track record of exports to 43 countries, JMEX quotes by grade, volume and destination so a Washington buyer can lock a stable landed cost rather than chase a headline unit price. On the export side JMEX handles origin selection and grade design, per-lot COA, MRL and heavy-metal testing, organic (JAS) and Halal certification support, certificate of origin and export documentation that eases FSVP verification, and stable recurring bulk supply for importers, wholesalers, cafes and manufacturers across Washington and the wider United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from Washington cafes, brands and importers evaluating wholesale matcha price, from per-kg ranges to duty, MOQ and delivery.
How much does wholesale matcha cost per kg in Washington in 2026?
There is no single Washington price. Wholesale Japanese matcha is quoted FOB Japan in USD per kg, and commercial-provider estimates for 2026 put culinary grade in the lower tens of dollars per kg, latte/barista grade in the middle, and ceremonial grade from the higher tens into the low hundreds. These are planning indicators that vary by provider, grade definition and order tier — add freight, handling and inland delivery, and confirm a current quote for your exact grade and volume.
Is matcha import duty-free into the United States?
Unflavored green tea, the heading matcha falls under, is duty-free in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS heading 0902, general/MFN rate Free). Confirm the exact sub-line and that your product is unflavored, and check with a customs broker whether any time-varying country-level measure applies separately; the product duty for plain matcha itself is Free.
What is the difference between FOB price and landed cost for a Washington buyer?
FOB is the price of the matcha at the Japanese port of export. Landed cost is what you actually pay in Washington: FOB plus ocean freight and insurance, US customs clearance, cold-chain handling, and inland delivery from the Seattle/Tacoma gateway. Because unflavored matcha is duty-free, the gap between FOB and landed is freight, handling and delivery — not import duty.
What is the MOQ for wholesale matcha?
There is no universal minimum order quantity — it is set by each supplier and usually comes with tiered pricing, so the per-kg price falls as you move from a sample to a working order and again at contract volume. Ask for the MOQ and the price at each tier, and start with a sample and a small trial order before committing to recurring volume.
Do I need FSVP to import matcha into the United States?
As the US importer you are generally responsible under the FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Program for verifying that your Japanese supplier produces food safely, and food-facility registration can apply depending on the product. Confirm your obligations against current FDA guidance; a supplier who provides a per-lot COA and accredited testing makes meeting them far easier.
How long does matcha delivery to Washington take?
Lead time depends on production, ocean transit via the Seattle/Tacoma gateway, customs clearance and inland delivery, so treat it as a per-shipment figure to confirm rather than a fixed promise. Agree the timeline with your supplier and freight forwarder, and prioritise cold-chain handling so matcha arrives with its colour and flavour intact.
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
The wholesale matcha price in Washington is best understood as a landed cost, not a single per-kg number: start from a grade-specific FOB quote, add freight, cold-chain handling and inland delivery from the Seattle/Tacoma gateway, and remember that unflavored matcha is duty-free under HTS 0902 — so your real obligations are compliance (FSVP) and logistics, not tariff. Compare suppliers on a named trade condition, lock your specification, and work from a current quote for your grade and volume rather than a headline estimate. JMEX supports overseas buyers across exactly these export-side steps.
Looking for wholesale or OEM matcha samples? Contact us — we will recommend the optimal origin and grade based on your application and target markets.
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