Australian tea export trader

Overseas importers, wholesalers, specialty tea shops and blenders who want Australian-grown or premium tea.

You buy at a grower or wholesale price and sell at a higher export price, or earn an agreed commission per shipment. Income is lumpy and depends on landing repeat buyers.

• Negotiating with buyers and growers
• Good with paperwork and detail
• Knowledge of tea quality and grades
• Patience building overseas contacts

• Import rules and labelling requirements in the destination country, check them before you quote
• Check with the Australian Government export services and your state food authority whether any export documents or food standards apply to your product
• Payment risk: consider deposits, letters of credit or trade credit insurance for new buyers
• Currency swings and shipping costs can wipe out a thin margin
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and GST and export treatment, check with an accountant
• Check whether Austrade support or Export Market Development Grants could apply to you

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on samples, shipping and paperwork. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on the buyers you win and the margins you negotiate.

Check import rules and labelling requirements in the destination country before you quote. Also check with Australian Government export services and your state food authority whether export documents or food standards apply, and ask an accountant about GST and export treatment.

Useful skills include negotiating with buyers and growers, handling paperwork carefully, knowing tea quality and grades, and patience building overseas contacts. You don't need your own factory, as you source finished tea and arrange shipping through a freight forwarder.