TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Agriculture and Food Agency estimates Taiwan’s pomelo production this year at about 46,800 tonnes, a drop of roughly 30% from previous years, primarily due to April drought and heavy rainfall brought by typhoons in July.

Pomelos in Taiwan are typically planted around March and harvested starting in September, near the Mid-Autumn Festival. The main production areas include Tainan, Hualien, Miaoli, Yunlin, and Yilan, per CNA.

The agency reported this year’s planting area at 3,722 hectares, roughly the same as last year. Despite lower volumes, it noted that most harvested fruit remains high in quality.

Early July’s Typhoon Danas resulted in over NT$1.4 billion (US$43.74 million) in damage to crops and livestock across central and southern Taiwan, with pomelo losses exceeding NT$200 million. In Tainan’s Madou District, strong winds caused about 80% of pomelos to fall prematurely.

Taiwan’s pomelo production is mainly for the domestic market, with exports accounting for about 3% of total output, the agency said. China used to take more than 90% of Taiwan’s pomelo exports. However, it halted imports of Taiwanese citrus in August 2022 over pest and disease concerns.

While China resumed imports in September 2024, the suspension disrupted Taiwan’s primary export channel. To address this, the agency has worked to expand into markets such as Japan, Singapore, and Canada. This year, China remained the largest buyer of Taiwanese pomelos, accounting for 53% of exports.

To bolster pomelo quality, the agency has introduced measures including enhanced pest and disease inspections and stricter enforcement of pesticide-application standards. It is also encouraging farmers to obtain production certification to build a more trusted brand for Taiwan’s pomelos.

Meanwhile, the agency has organized pomelo tasting events and cooking competitions to boost the domestic market.