Taiwan is a mature market for U.S. fruits. Among stone fruits, Taiwan produces peaches domestically but does not produce nectarines or cherries. Fruit consumption in Taiwan remains consistent, with stable demand for cherries. However, the long-term demand for peach/nectarine continues to show a declining trend.
Chile has become the primary supplier of nectarines (87% market share), reducing the U.S. market share to only 10%. In Marketing Year (MY) 2023, Taiwan imported a total of 10,776 MT of peaches and nectarines, and 12,268 MT of cherries. Due to factors such as reduced supply from the United States, a strong U.S. dollar, and increased freight costs, prices for peaches, nectarines, and cherries have all risen by at least 10% this year. For MY2024, Post estimates that peach and nectarine consumption will decline to 27,500 MT while cherry consumption is expected to fall to 11,800 MT.
Consumption and trade
The increase in domestic peaches production in Taiwan cannot offset the decrease in imports of U.S. peaches, resulting in a continued overall decline in peach and nectarine consumption. In 2023, consumption was 28,078 MT, accounting for approximately 1% of Taiwan's annual fruit consumption.
Post expects U.S. peach supply in MY2024 to decrease to around 4,000 MT and nectarine supply to 1,000 MT. The increasing price and unpredictability quality makes consumers less willing to purchase. To ensure fruit appearance during transportation, growers prefer early harvesting to mitigate risks during long-distance transport. However, post-purchase ripening processes often lead to inconsistent textures, disappointing consumers.
Taiwan's annual fruit production and import volumes (prices) remain relatively stable. However, peaches are not considered an essential daily fruit, particularly during summer when alternatives such as papayas, pineapples, guavas, dragon fruits, mangoes, and avocados are widely available in Taiwan.
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Source: apps.fas.usda.gov