BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's tea exports are expected to remain stable this year over firm demand, China Daily reported Monday.

China is expected to export 300,000 tonnes of tea leaves this year out of 2.8 millon tonnes of output, with export value reaching about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, the report said, quoting Wang Qing, head of the China Tea Marketing Association.

Demand in traditional major destinations like Europe, the United States and Africa is stable, Wang said.

Meanwhile, the industry faces a new "historical opportunity" in expanding market potential among the Belt and Road countries, Wang was quoted as saying.

In the first three quarters of 2018, China exported 263,000 tonnes of tea, up 0.29 percent year on year, the report said, citing customs data. The exports were worth 1.28 billion dollars, up 10.41 percent year on year.

Green tea was the most popular category among various teas that China offered to the world, accounting for 83 percent of the exports, according to the report.