According to import and export customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Tea Manufacturers’ Association, Taiwan’s tea export volume reached 3,145 metric tons in 2012. Benefiting from tariff-free exports to mainland China, the Chinese mainland was the largest export market with 556 metric tons, followed by the United States at approximately 64.6 metric tons, and Japan as the third-largest export market at 49.6 metric tons.
Thanks to the ECFA, tariffs on Taiwanese tea exports to mainland China dropped from 15% in 2010 to 5% in 2011, and became completely tariff-free in 2012. As a result, Taiwan’s tea exports to China surged to 3,145 metric tons in 2012, an increase of 328 metric tons compared to 2,816 metric tons in 2011.
The following shows Taiwan’s historical tea export volumes. 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 |
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.