TAIPEI: Taiwan’s exports of green soybeans, called edamame in Japan and mao dou in China, hit a record high of US$76 million in 2015, with 87.5 percent of the exports going to Japan, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Sunday.
The strong export performance was attributed to the constant research and development of new products by the COA’s Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, according to the COA.
Despite facing 6 percent customs duties and fierce price competition in Japan, Taiwan’s green soybean exports to that country were able to succeed in the market due to their high quality, according to the station. Last year, Taiwan exported 36,117 metric tons worth US$76.61 million last year, which represents a 6.5 percent growth from 2014 and a record high in 22 years.
Taiwanese frozen green soybeans accounted for 44.3 percent of the Japanese market, making it the biggest exporter to the country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Thailand and China, according to the station. The average price of Taiwan’s green soybeans in Japan is at an average of 271 Japanese yen (US$2.43) per kilogram, higher than China’s 218 yen.
The strong ability in the development of a wide variety of new high quality products has also made Taiwan increasingly competitive in the market, it said.
The agricultural research and extension station said it has helped six frozen food companies to establish new factories and expand their existing factory operations in Taiwan, with a total investment of NT$2.15 billion (US$66.55 million). These factories are expected to create 1,000 jobs and drive green bean exports up to US$80 million this year.
