TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan has not imported a single apple from South Africa this year following the African country’s plan to relocate Taiwan’s representative offices, reports said Thursday.
South Africa unilaterally changed the names of the Taipei Liaison Offices in Pretoria and Cape Town to “Taipei Commercial Offices,” adding the Pretoria office should move out of the capital to Johannesburg. After Taiwan said in September it would restrict semiconductor exports to South Africa, the country reportedly offered negotiations.
One of the most noticeable changes in trade relations between the two countries has been the import of South African apples, the Liberty Times reported. In 2024, Taiwan imported NT$236 million (US$7.54 million) worth of fresh apples from South Africa, but so far in 2025, not a single apple has reached Taiwan.
From January to November, the country imported NT$3.75 million of South African apple juice, a 98% drop from the same period last year.
Taiwan’s five main sources of fresh apples for the same period were New Zealand, the US, Chile, Japan, and France, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. When all apple products such as juice and dried fruit are considered, China replaced France as Taiwan’s fifth supplier.
