TAIPEI: The amount of Taiwan’s agricultural exports to mainland China fell by 19.4 percent in 2016 when compared to the numbers of 2015, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). The council blamed the fall on cold weather and typhoons which harmed production.
According to details, COA tallies showed that in terms of value, Taiwan’s agricultural shipments to mainland China posted a slight annual drop of 9.4 percent to reach US$906.6 million in 2016.
Taiwan’s annual farm exports to mainland China ranged from US$360 million to US$1 billion over the past decade, according to COA tallies.
“The exports still stood above the US$900 million level despite a 9.4 percent decline — the performance wasn’t so bad,” said Lin Chia-jung, deputy director of the COA’s Department of International Affairs.
Lin said that the island’s agricultural production was seriously damaged last year by chilly weather, typhoons and heavy downpours.
“As a result, shipments of mango and custard apple, two favorite fruits for mainland Chinese consumers, plunged 82.6 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively, in terms of value,” Lin said.
In 2016 tangerines and grapefruits also saw drops by 25.6 percent and 8.2 percent respectively, while Taiwan’s shipments of pineapple and wax apple to mainland China saw a yearly growth of 50.7 percent and 46.9 percent in 2016.
