Taiwanese rice exports dropped 9.4 percent in terms of volume last year, but rose 2.5 percent in value due to higher prices in Japan, Australia and Canada, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.
Outbound shipments reached 126,968 tonnes, while export value rose to US$103 million, ministry data showed.
Exports to Japan more than tripled to 12,548 tonnes from 2024’s 3,890 tonnes, and surged to US$14.1 million from US$3.51 million, the data showed.
Photo: Huang Shu-li, Taipei Times
Shipments to Australia and Canada also grew to US$10 million and US$2.91 million respectively, or more than 10 percent from 2024, the ministry said.
A critical factor in the growth of rice exports to Japan was the strategy of appealing directly to the Japanese public, rather than just to restaurateurs, Agriculture and Food Agency Deputy Director Huang Chao-hsing (黃昭興) said.
Taiwan’s main competitor in Japan is the US, but Taiwanese rice seems to appeal more to the Japanese public in terms of taste, he said.
Although Japan limits rice imports to 100,000 tonnes, the quality and price of Taiwanese rice should help it secure a foothold in the market, he said.
With Japanese importers eyeing the potential of purchasing more Taiwanese rice, exports to that country could surge to new levels this year, he said.
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