Coronavirus disrupts trade in Asia
U.S. agricultural exports to Taiwan and other markets in Asia are facing new logistical and transportation challenges because of the Novel Coronavirus and those conditions may not ease soon, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report, “Taiwan Impacted as Agricultural Trade Disrupted by Coronavirus” reports trade with Taiwan is being impacted by new quarantine measures, port closures, vessel delays, and suspended flights as U.S. agribusiness exporters struggle to find available space for cargo.
“While Taiwan has not announced any new quarantine restrictions on shipping vessels, air cargo, or incoming agricultural products due the to 2019 Novel Coronavirus, systemic delays are impacting overall U.S. agricultural exports bound for Taiwan and the world,” the report said.
The report said air cargo is also being disrupted, with airlines reporting severe disruptions in inbound and outbound cargo shipments.
“Many highly perishable agricultural products often move via air cargo, further increasing the strain on export shippers looking for alternatives given container delays,” the report said.
In 2019, U.S. fresh fruit exports to Taiwan totaled $255 million, up 28% from 2018. U.S. fresh vegetable exports to Taiwan in 2019 totaled $71 million, down 11% from 2018.
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