According to the Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan’s agricultural exports in 2012 totaled a staggering US$5.08 billion, a figure representing an 8.8% increase in comparison to last year’s numbers, in which produce and aquaculture products accounted respectively for 14% and 11% of Taiwan’s 2012 agricultural exports. As for the nation’s top four agricultural export destinations (percentage of trade volume provided in parentheses), namely Japan (21.1%), China (15.5%), Hong Kong (10.1%) and the United States (9.3%), these four markets experienced an average of 4 to 18 % growth in agricultural trade value with Taiwan during 2012. Moreover, the nation’s top five agricultural products in terms of global export value were groupers, which saw a 36% increase in demand, moth orchids, which jumped by 15.9%, sea bass, which grew by 29.1% and raked in an additional US$43.95 million in comparison to its 2011 sales, soy beans, which enjoyed a 13.4% boost in popularity, and spray orchids, whose exports grew by 25.2%. These statistics clearly indicate the popularity and superior quality of Taiwan’s agricultural products, the COA pointed out.

Aquaculture power: Demand for Taiwanese groupers jump by 36%

Thanks to Taiwan’s mild climate as well as its advanced grouper breeding and farming techniques, production of the savory fish has become one of the island’s foremost aquaculture sectors. The grouper sector has also benefited considerably from recent governmental policies such as the resumption of direct flights across the Taiwan Strait, the employment of vessels capable of transporting live fish as well as the Early Harvest List stipulated by the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). In comparison to last year’s numbers, Taiwanese exports of groupers experienced a 36% increase in 2012 and tallied a total of US$165.94 million, of which China contributed US$131.06 million with its 28% increase in demand. In addition to the vast Chinese market, Taiwanese grouper farmers are now eyeing Europe and the United States, for recent developments in instant freezing technology now allows for live fish to achieve negative 70 degrees Celsius within 3 hours, a technological feat that can preserve and prepare fresh seafood for long-distance transport.

New record: Exports of moth orchids exceed US$100-million mark

Years of research in the cross breeding, cultivation and transportation of moth orchids have finally borne fruit — 2012 saw international demand for Taiwanese moth orchids grow by 16%, raking in a total of US$114.12 million in export value. The surpassing of the US$100-million mark is partly aided by an agreement in 2005 with the United States that allowed for the transportation of live moth orchids potted in wet seaweed; the United States then replaced Japan as the largest consumer of Taiwanese moth orchids in 2008. Moreover, global demand for the island’s unique orchids steadily increased even throughout the 2009 global financial crisis, an incredible achievement that stands testament to Taiwan’s competitive edge in the floral market.

Cross-strait opportunities: Paving the way for more agricultural exports to China

Recent advancements in cross-strait cooperation policies such as direct Taiwan-China flights, the Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Quarantine and Inspection of Agricultural Products and the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) has secured China’s place as the second largest market for Taiwanese agricultural exports, according to the COA. The nation’s total agricultural exports to China in 2012 amounted to US$789 million, a figure which translates into a 17.7% increase in demand in comparison to last year’s numbers. This trend has also effectively lowered the cross-strait agricultural trade deficit in recent years; in 2007, the deficit stood at US$281 million, whereas the figure dropped to US$38 million in 2012. Moreover, the 18 items on the ECFA’s Early Harvest List tallied US$161 million and weighed a total of 40,000 tons in 2012, representing a 28.5% boost in monetary value and a 97.1% increase in actual weight. Taiwan’s crowning agricultural export to China remains the grouper, which enjoyed a 28.4% increase in demand from the Chinese market in 2012.

With the objective of setting up global deployment from the isle of Taiwan, the COA pledged to continue its endeavors in promoting and exporting Taiwanese agricultural products around the world. By attending trade fairs in specific target markets, establishing optimal supply chains with new trade partners and establishing overseas offices for long-term promotion purposes, the COA hopes to further boost the export volume, financial value and international recognition of Taiwan’s agricultural products.