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.
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
RECOGNITION: Former Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said that Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy serves as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region Taiwan can lead the unification of the Chinese people, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Polish president Lech Walesa said in Taipei yesterday, adding that as the world order is changing, peaceful discussion would find good solutions, and that the use of force and coercion would always fail. Walesa made the remarks during his keynote address at a luncheon of the Yushan Forum in Taipei, titled “Indo-Pacific Partnership Prospects: Taiwan’s Values, Technology and Resilience,” organized by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Walesa said that he had been at the forefront of a big peaceful revolution and “if
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
RSS