Taiwan’s apple imports to decline slightly, says USDA

Taiwan’s apple imports for the 2016/17 marketing year are forecast to total 160,000 tons, down 5% on last year’s record 169,000 tons, reports the USDA.

“A decline in price competitiveness of imported apples, compared with other imported fruit, and weak economic growth, are reasons for the lower import estimate,” it says.

Furthermore, a “strong harvest in the state of Washington will help the United States to remain Taiwan’s leading apple supplier according to industry sources.”

Taiwan’s domestic apple production continues to decline and currently meets less than 1% of domestic demand.

Apples are Taiwan’s leading imported fruit, and the US is the leading supplier with about 31%  of the import market share.

Fuji remains the most popular variety accounting for nearly 90 percent of imports.