Browse Data and Analysis

FAS/San José expects orange production to increase approximately 11 percent in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 to 250,000 metric tons. Production in MY 2023/24 was lower than previously expected at 225,000 metric tons as a result of erratic rainfall patterns associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Taiwan imports over 135,000 MT apples annually with domestic supply less than one percent. Post expects that MY 2024/2025 Taiwan apple imports will return to 145,000 MT with domestic supply stable at 1250 MT.

Taiwan is a mature market for U.S. fruits. Among stone fruits, Taiwan produces peaches domestically but does not produce nectarines or cherries. Fruit consumption in Taiwan remains consistent, with stable demand for cherries.

On December 25, 2023, Taiwan announced that U.S. cherries exported to Taiwan will undergo enhanced border inspection (20 – 50 percent inspection rate) from April 1 until September 30, 2024.

FAS/San José expects a 15 percent decline in Costa Rica’s marketing year 2023/24 orange crop driving production down to 250,000 metric tons on suboptimal precipitation – associated with an El Niño weather system – during the critical fruit development period in 2023.

Taiwan’s MY 2022/23 apple imports were 131,252 MT and are forecast at 130,000 MT for MY 2023/24. The United States remains the largest supplier of apples by volume but the market share of Japan, New Zealand, and Chile are all extremely close behind.

In MY2022/2023, Taiwan’s total cherry consumption, which is based entirely on imports, dropped to just over 12,000 MT due to extremely tight supply of U.S. cherries.

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2022 calendar year.

FAS/San José anticipates Costa Rican orange production to rise to 305,000 metric tons in marketing year 2022/23, despite challenging growing conditions, as effective citrus greening management and increased density tree patterns drive yields higher.

Taiwan’s domestic apple production rose to 1,458 MT in MY 2021/2022, though production area continues to shrink due to economic, trade, and environmental factors. Taiwan’s apple demand remains strong and consumption is almost entirely import dependent. Total imports in MY 2021/2022 were 151,260 MT and are forecast to increase to 154,000 in MY 2022/2023. The United States holds the largest market share by volume, though New Zealand is rapidly gaining market share and enjoys a tariff advantage.

Taiwan is the third largest export market for U.S. peaches and nectarines and the fifth largest export market for U.S. cherries. In MY 2021/22, Taiwan imported 16,330 MT of fresh peaches/ nectarines and 13,851 MT of fresh cherries. The U.S. share of the import market is around 70 percent for peaches/nectarines and 42 percent for cherries.