Taiwan on track to meet pineapple export target of 30,000 tons, thanks to robust sales in Japan

Taiwan is on track to meet its pineapple export target of 30,000 tons this year, having exported 18,222 tons so far, with 11,286 tons or 61.9 percent sold to Japan.

The 11,286 tons sold to Japan exceed the total sold to the country in the past decade.

Taiwan is re-entering the South Korean market after a few years of hiatus and the US has also become a new market for the fruit..

Before showing a favorable response to Taiwanese pineapples, South Korea used to import pineapples from the Philippines and Indonesia, according to Department of International Affairs Director Lin Chia-jung.

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) would work with some businesses to promote the fruit in South Korea, which would be a prioritized market next year, he added.

The council would also promote a mango-pineapple hybrid to farther countries as the Taiwanese golden diamond pineapple is not suitable for long-distance transportation.

After China suspended imports of Taiwanese pineapples in March, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) has worked to expand other export channels.