January 1, 2011

Taiwan's agricultural exports achieve good growth in 2010

Taiwan's agricultural exports have grown substantially this year following the global economic recovery, the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture (COA) said Thursday.

As of the end of November, exports of Taiwan-grown agricultural and aquacultural products had amounted to US$3.626 billion, up 23.6% from the year-earlier level, the council said.

According to COA statistics, five items including eels, grouper and green soy posted the largest on-year growth rates at 105%, 95%, 33%, 25% and 12%, respectively.

A COA official said local eel farmers have enjoyed thriving business and extra profit margins this year because of poor elver catches in Japan, South Korea, China and major Southeast Asian countries earlier this year.

Increases in grouper exports, meanwhile, can be attributed to the opening of direct shipping links across the Taiwan Strait, a measure that has allowed local aquaculturists to ship live fish to China efficiently and quickly, the official said.

In addition, the May 1-October 31 Shanghai World Expo also contributed greatly to growth in grouper exports to China, as the event helped promote the image of Taiwan-raised grouper, the official added.