Japan has replaced China as the world’s top importer of Taiwanese fruit, taking in 46.2 percent of the nation’s fruit exports, Council of Agriculture data showed.
Taiwan has over the past two years seen a shift in its target export markets, moving away from China and toward the US and Japan.
Produce exports to Japan grew by US$850 million, or 11 percent, council data showed.
Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei Times
China had traditionally imported more than 80 percent of Taiwan’s produce.
To capitalize on the export shift, the council is planning new distribution methods in Japan, such as installing vending machines that sell Taiwanese fruit, a council employee said yesterday.
As most Japanese supermarkets close at 8pm, many have vending machines on their premises for people who cannot get to the store before closing time, and these venues could be opportunities for Taiwanese goods, the source said.
With China’s near-total suspension of imports of Taiwanese produce, alcohol and seafood, Taiwan is focusing more on Japan for export development.
Pineapple exports to Japan last year were valued at US$24.05 million, up 5.8 percent from 2021, while Japan imported 93 tonnes of pomeloes and other fruits from Taiwan, nearly doubling previous amounts, the council said.
Tea exports to Japan also grew to 600 tonnes, up 26 percent year-on-year, while soybean oil increased to 10,238 tonnes last year, with a value of US$15.61 million, council data showed.
The council’s International Division said it recently signed an agreement with the Japanese produce chain Wismettac Foods to annually import 3,500 tonnes of fresh pineapples, 100 tonnes of frozen pineapples and 1,500 tonnes of bananas.
Agricultural imports from the US last year reached US$4.65 billion, council data showed.
About US$1.71 billion of soybeans and other oil seeds were sourced from the US, marking a shift away from Russian supply.
Taiwan also imported US$2.1 billion worth of chicken meat from the US last year, a 31.2 percent increase from 2021, it added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
UNDER WAY: The contract for advanced sensor systems would be fulfilled in Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 2031, the Pentagon said Lockheed Martin has been given a contract involving foreign military sales to Taiwan to meet what Washington calls “an urgent operational need” of Taiwan’s air force, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The contract has a ceiling value of US$328.5 million, with US$157.3 million in foreign military sales funds obligated at the time of award, the Pentagon said in a statement. “This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor Pods, processors, pod containers and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan air force,” it said. The contract’s work would be
RSS