Taiwan’s tea export volume reached its peak in 1972, after which the overseas market gradually shrank due to rising domestic production costs. In recent years, driven by the popularity of Taiwan oolong tea, Pouchong tea, and high-mountain tea, exports of premium Taiwanese tea have shown an upward trend. Growth has been most pronounced in mainland China, where Taiwanese tea exports to the region reached 556 metric tons in 2012. Aside from mainland China, the largest export markets for Taiwanese tea are the United States and Japan, with 64.6 metric tons and 49.6 metric tons respectively in 2012.
Beyond the exceptional quality of Taiwanese tea, the primary factor influencing export volumes is the reduction of tariffs under the ECFA. In 2010, the tariff on Taiwanese tea exported to mainland China was 15%, which was reduced to zero by 2012, resulting in a dramatic increase in export volume to 3,145 metric tons.
The table below shows the annual total export volume of Taiwanese tea. Sources: Taiwan Tea Manufacturers’ Association, Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) of the Council of Agriculture.
|
Year
|
Total Export Volume (Ton) |
|
1996
|
3475 |
|
1997
|
2918 |
|
1998
|
2482 |
|
1999
|
3539 |
|
2000
|
3774 |
|
2001
|
4360 |
|
2002
|
6708 |
|
2003
|
8557 |
|
2004
|
8820 |
|
2005
|
9943 |
|
2006
|
9198 |
|
2007
|
2004 |
|
2008
|
2341 |
|
2009
|
2400 |
|
2010
|
2626 |
|
2011
|
2632 |
|
2012
|
3143 |
|
2013
|
3948 |
|
2014
|
3737 |
|
2015
|
4744 |