New Zealand: First Container of Potatoes Shipped to Taiwan After Market Access
A New Zealand exporter says it shipped the first container of New Zealand potatoes to Taiwan in August 2026, after years of industry work on phytosanitary access.
New Zealand potatoes have reached Taiwan for the first time. The exporter Harvest Fresh says it shipped the first container of New Zealand potatoes to Taiwan in August 2026. The trade site FreshPlaza reported the milestone on 25 September.
Michael Croft, general manager of Harvest Fresh, said the industry worked hard to secure phytosanitary access to Taiwan. Before this, the market was not open to New Zealand potato exporters.
A mixed year for exporters
Harvest Fresh exports red and brown onions, carrots and potatoes. It sources them from both the North and South Islands. The company marked its 20th year in 2026.
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According to Croft, 2026 has been an unusual year. Carrot shipments to the Middle East stopped because of conflict in the region. European onion markets were under pressure from large local supplies. Shipping delays also made on-time delivery harder.
The company says it spreads risk by sourcing from different regions. Onions come mainly from Hawke’s Bay. Carrots come from Southland and also from Western Australia. Its markets include Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and other countries in Asia, as well as Europe.
Croft said diversification helps when one region has poor conditions. The company can then switch to another region with a different climate.
Weather risk ahead
Growers are preparing for El Niño conditions. El Niño can bring drier weather to parts of New Zealand. According to the report, growers are planning irrigation to reduce the risk of drought damage in the new season.
Why it matters
New Zealand exports a large share of its fresh vegetables to Asia. Access to Taiwan adds a new outlet for potatoes. This is important when other markets face pressure from conflict, shipping problems or large supplies in Europe. The first container is a small volume. Its value lies in opening the channel. Future volumes will depend on the price, on quality on arrival and on the phytosanitary conditions of the protocol.
Photo: A container ship entering the port of Auckland, New Zealand (illustrative). GPS 56 from New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
