Importing US peanuts tariff-free could affect up to 30 percent of domestically produced peanuts, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said today, presenting plans to boost the value of local peanuts and guide crop switching.
Tariff-free imports of US peanuts are an item of agreement under the US-Taiwan Agreement of Reciprocal Trade (ART), which still needs to be approved by the Legislative Yuan.
In response to concerns that US peanuts would flood the market once the ART takes effect, the government would help the industry transition so that Taiwanese peanuts remain the best choice for consumers, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Chung-yi (胡忠一) said in a Facebook post last night.
Photo: Taipei Times
If the ART is implemented, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of domestically produced peanuts would be affected, he added.
Domestic peanut production is concentrated in Yunlin and Changhua counties, but the industry has been declining annually due to labor shortages.
Peanut farms took up about 19,000 hectares in 2020, but fell to 17,000 hectares in 2024 and further dropped to 15,000 last year, ministry data showed.
Most of Taiwan’s imported peanuts come from India, Argentina and Brazil, with US peanuts accounting for less than 1 percent of total imports, data showed.
US shelled peanuts cost NT$47 per kilogram and un-shelled peanuts cost NT$37 per kilogram, Hu said.
As Taiwan’s peanut production last year was impacted by typhoons, shelled peanuts cost NT$150 to NT$160 per kilogram and un-shelled ones cost NT$80 to NT$88 per kilogram, which shows that US peanut imports would impact the market, he said.
However, farmers should not be overly concerned, as domestic peanuts would remain the preferred choice in most cases, Hu said.
Taiwan’s peanut consumption currently exceeds domestic production, with about 30 percent relying on imports, he said.
Most imported peanuts are shelled, as they easily go bad if not stored properly, Hu said.
However, about 70 percent of domestic peanuts are used for processed foods, for which fresh, in-shell peanuts are preferred, he said.
In addition, US peanuts are harder, and processors would need to consider whether the flavor could be maintained if they switch, he added.
Taiwan has developed several preferred peanut varieties, producing high-quality peanuts with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and strong antioxidants, Hu said.
Three years ago, the government began promoting group production zones, implementing a fully integrated, standardized system from production to procurement, he said, adding that group-based production would be expanded in the future.
The ministry is encouraging smaller farmers to join group production zones or switch to sweet potatoes or edamame, which have stronger export competitiveness, Hu said.
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