Yunlin County boosts exports to Singapore with over 1,250 metric tons of fruits and vegetables

(中央社訊息服務20251020 17:37:58)Yunlin agricultural product exports have another good news! The Yunlin County Government held a press conference on Sept. 10 for “Yunlin Premium Products Grand Export Launch.” Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善), together with the county government's Agricultural Director Wei Sheng-de (魏勝德), M & A Agriculture Co., Ltd. General Manager Lin Yan-rong (林延蓉), Yunlin County Farmers Association Director Li Cheng-nan (李政男), and Councillor Hong Ru-ping (洪如萍)’s assistant Cheng Li-chI (鄭莉錡), sealed the containers for “Yunlin Good Products,” including pomelo, bananas, leafy vegetables, to sail for Singapore.

Yunlin’s total exports to Singapore from 2020 to 2024 exceeded 1,250 metric tons. This not only secures a stable year-round supply of carrots, romaine lettuce, celery, cabbage, bitter melon, and pomelo to the Singaporean and Malaysian markets, but also, under the active promotion of County Magistrate Chang, added leafy vegetables in 2023, successfully breaking through the market. In 2024, pineapples, papayas, bananas, and other fruits were added to the export list, giving Yunlin agricultural products a more diversified and internationally competitive edge.

County Magistrate Chang stated that the main export items loaded this time are Yunlin’s pomelo and bananas, both of which are abundant in the county. Pomelo, with its rich aroma and delicate, juicy flesh, is a favorite among overseas consumers. Bananas, renowned for their consistent quality and sweet taste, have long been one of Taiwan’s most representative fruits. The ship’s departure to Singapore just before the Mid-Autumn Festival not only symbolizes Yunlin’s continued expansion into the international market but also demonstrates the meaning of reunion and sharing of Taiwanese agricultural products. The government hopes that this shipment will further enhance the global recognition of the strength of the “Yunlin Good Products” brand.

County Magistrate Chang noted that Yunlin County is a major agricultural county, and the county government continues to expand its agricultural product distribution domestically through various marketing channels, actively exploring international markets. Starting in 2023, recognizing market demand, Yunlin County exported leafy vegetables such as bok choy, kale, garland chrysanthemum, and spinach to Singapore for the first time. These vegetables have also been successfully introduced to major local supermarket chains including FairPrice, Sheng Siong, and Giant Supermarkets, marking a new milestone in Yunlin’s leafy vegetable exports. Notably, in 2025, Yunlin County will also introduce leafy vegetables to the self-sufficient Malaysian market in the Cameron Highlands. This marks the official entry of Yunlin agricultural products into the international market, reaching a new peak in the enhanced cooperation.

At the same time, the county government is actively deepening international cooperation through overseas promotional activities. Since receiving international orders in 2020, Yunlin has launched a new Southbound promotion for the export of Yunlin County agricultural products. In 2022, pomelo was introduced to the Singaporean market. From 2023 to 2024, the county co-organized the Taiwan Vegetable Festival with major supermarkets such as NTUC and Giant. In April 2025, the county joined forces with Sheng Siong Group, Singapore’s leading private supermarket group, signing a three-year, SGD 1 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) and hosting a week-long Taiwan Food Festival, marking a significant milestone in the entry of Taiwanese agricultural products into the international market.

County Magistrate Chang said that although previous typhoons and floods caused damage to pomelo and bananas, she is very grateful to farmers and agricultural enterprises for their continued stable supply and quality, and for working with marketing partners to open up overseas markets.

Wei Sheng-de, Director of the county government’s Department of Agriculture, noted that Sheng Siong Group, with its 82 supermarket chains in Singapore, is deeply supported and beloved by local consumers and a key trade partner of Yunlin. The county collaborated the company again in the second half of the year, from Sept.26 to Oct. 2, to host an event to promote pomelo and banana from Yunlin. This Mid-Autumn Festival promotional event showcased Yunlin’s fresh fruits and vegetables, including pomelo, bananas, carrots, and leafy vegetables. Twenty-five tasting sessions were held across eight stores, continuing to promote Yunlin’s high-quality agricultural products internationally.

Director Wei Sheng-de said that the typhoons during this period caused serious damage to agricultural products, but with integrity and quality assurance, the county government has overcome many difficulties. This ceremony to seal the export of fruits and vegetables to Singapore is a very important milestone for Yunlin. He hopes that the partners in Singapore will be able to taste Yunlin’s best agricultural products in the future.

Lin Yan-rong, General Manager of M & A Agriculture Co., Ltd., specifically mentioned that compared to other counties and cities, only “Yunlin Goods” have swept through Singapore’s three major supermarket chains and held large-scale events for three consecutive years. The Yunlin County Government also demonstrated its commitment by signing an MOU with Sheng Siong Group this year, offering to supply agricultural products from other counties and cities and seal their shelves for export, boosting both agricultural products and the economy. During the Sept. 10 shelf-sealing ceremony, Lin expressed her gratitude to the county government team and County Magistrate Chang for their support. She also expressed her hope to build consensus among farmers and demonstrate the resilience of Taiwan’s agricultural industry, which has not been defeated by the storm and can quickly recover and resume exports.

County Magistrate Chang emphasized that Yunlin County will continue to prioritize “quality” and “internationalization,” deepening its collaboration with overseas partners and establishing “Yunlin Goods” as a key brand for Taiwanese agriculture in the global arena. The shipment of pomelo and bananas to Singapore is not only a breakthrough in terms of numbers, but also represents the innovation and resilience of Yunlin agriculture, symbolizing a crucial step for Taiwanese agriculture to enter the global markets.