In recent years, the import volume of tea into Taiwan has increased year by year, rising from 18,513 metric tons in 2003 and 25,050 in 2007 to 29,917 metric tons in 2012. Compared to domestic Taiwanese tea, imported tea exceeds local production by 12,415 metric tons. Factoring out Taiwan’s tea exports, imported tea is roughly double the volume of domestic tea.
The annual increase in tea imports to Taiwan is mainly driven by lower tariffs following WTO accession, coupled with a growing domestic demand for tea that local production cannot keep up with. Since joining the WTO, import tariffs on tea are set at 25% for partially fermented tea and 17% for black and green teas; additionally, partially fermented tea from mainland China is restricted from import. Currently, Taiwan’s primary sources of imported tea are
Currently, Vietnam is Taiwan’s largest source of tea imports, accounting for 70% of the total volume at approximately 21,000 metric tons. This is followed by mainland China, primarily supplying Pu-erh tea. Significant quantities are also imported from Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka.
|
Year
|
Domestic Production | Import Volume |
|
1996
|
23131 | 7365 |
|
1997
|
23505 | 7693 |
|
1998
|
22641 | 8700 |
|
1999
|
21119 | 11302 |
|
2000
|
20349 | 12891 |
|
2001
|
19837 | 16547 |
|
2002
|
20345 | 18564 |
|
2003
|
20675 | 18513 |
|
2004
|
20192 | 20887 |
|
2005
|
18803 | 22059 |
|
2006
|
19345 | 25518 |
|
2007
|
17502 | 25050 |
|
2008
|
16780 | 25054 |
|
2009
|
16780 | 25713 |
|
2010
|
17467 | 26483 |
|
2011
|
17310 | 31113 |
|
2012
|
17502 | 29917 |
|
2013
|
30203 | |
|
2014
|
32375 | |
|
2015
|
29933 |
The characteristics of Taiwanese tea have shifted from black and green teas primarily for export in the early days to lightly fermented Pouchong tea and high mountain tea in recent years. Wenshan Pouchong tea, high mountain tea, and Oriental Beauty tea are the Taiwanese specialty teas that best represent Taiwan’s tea culture today.