Taiwan’s agricultural exports in the first half of 2010 posted a 19.3-percent increase over the same period last year to reach US$1.87 billion, the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture said Aug. 12.
It further noted that exports of 29 leading agricultural items—including such diverse goods as eels, groupers, butterfly orchids and mangoes—registered an average growth rate of 22.6 percent to reach US$267.1 million.
Among export destinations, agricultural exports to mainland China rose most dramatically by 36.4 percent to reach US$232 million, thanks largely to direct cross-strait shipping links that were first put in place in late 2008, the COA said.
According to the COA report, Japan remains the largest export market for Taiwan’s agricultural products, accounting for 22.4 percent of all the produce exports. Mainland China, Hong Kong and the U.S. are the next most popular export destinations, accounting for 12.4, 11.9, and 10.5 percent, respectively, of all agricultural exports.
“A safety management system introduced by the COA to ensure quality of fruit entering to Japan is gaining reputation and being welcomed by Japanese importers and consumers,” the COA said. The mechanism was first introduced in 2007 to help track the safety of the produce and reinforce inspections for pesticide residues.
The COA noted that sweetsop and live grouper exports increased significantly thanks to a new policy, implemented in March, that allows live fish to be directly shipped to 11 ports in mainland China.
In addition, the COA noted that the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement is set to take effect soon. If the trade pact is able to clear the Legislature in the second half of 2010, mainland China is obliged to cut to zero the tariff on 18 agricultural products from Taiwan. This being the case, the COA said it is likely that agricultural exports to the mainland will increase further in the months and years ahead. (HZW)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw