Cherry imports up 33 percent in first half of 2018
Taiwan is the third largest export market for U.S. peaches and nectarines and the fifth largest exp…Taiwan is the third largest export market for U.S. peaches and nectarines and the fifth largest export market for U.S. cherries. Cherry imports in the first half of 2018 are up 33 percent in Taiwan compared to the same period last year. Cherry imports for the full year are forecast to rise 11 percent to 15,000 tons.
Peach and nectarine imports, in contrast, were down 24 percent in the first half of 2018 as large harvests of local fruit drove down prices and hurt demand for imported peaches. Cherries are viewed as a specialty fruit in Taiwan and there has been less substitution by consumers.
The peach and nectarine crop area is forecast to drop slightly to 2,110 hectares in 2018. While there was only minimal frost damage in early 2018, growers have expressed concerns over labor shortages. Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) estimates the crop area for peaches and nectarines was 2,133 hectares in 2017, down two percent from 2016. Cold weather and typhoon damage in 2016 hurt trees and reduced crop area for 2017.
Peach and nectarine production is forecast to stabilize at 23,000 tons in 2018. 2017 production is raised 1.7 percent to 23,254 tons based on COA statistics. The increase is due to good harvests in Taichung County, which grows almost 60 percent of the peaches and nectarines in Taiwan.