TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) said on Tuesday (April 2) that the total acreage of pineapple planting in 2024 was 7,200 hectares.
Although this is a decrease of 4% from last year, AFA said the quality of pineapples has improved. Pineapple exports this year have reached 5,800 metric tons, on pace to exceed the annual export target of 20,000 metric tons.
AFA also told consumers quality control measures have improved, weeding out inferior pineapples affected by core rot.
AFA Deputy Director-General Su Mao-Hsiang (蘇茂祥) said pineapples are entering peak harvest season with strong export sales stabilizing domestic prices. Based on prices at Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co. on Tuesday (April 2), pineapples are fetching NT$30 (US$1) per kg, which is about double the production cost, leading to reasonable profits for farmers, per UDN.
Su said the major challenge to domestic pineapple farmers has been China’s decision to suspend pineapple imports from Taiwan for the third consecutive year. This led farmers to seek diverse external markets, such as Japan, which continues to be Taiwan's most important market. In the future, Taiwan will try to develop emerging markets such as Brunei.
As for whether Taiwan pineapples will return to the Chinese market, Su said farmers should focus on the Japanese market and maintain a realistic attitude toward China's market.