Quick Answer
Taiwanese tapioca pearls are the flagship bubble tea export. Some published figures: Business Today reported in 2019 that Japan imported 6,270 tonnes of tapioca pearls in January–July 2019, 87% of them from Taiwan; Liberty Times, citing Bloomberg in 2023, reported that US imports of Taiwanese tapioca pearls tripled in two years to about US$50 million, with Taiwan accounting for 69% of US import value; and Commercial Times reported in October 2019 that TAITRA estimated Taiwan’s 2019 tapioca pearl exports at about US$100 million. Overseas store openings, retail and home demand are all driving exports of Taiwanese bubble tea ingredients.
Taiwan Tapioca Pearl Export Data
| Market | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 6,270 tonnes imported in January–July 2019, 87% (5,435 tonnes) from Taiwan, up 8.9 times year on year | Business Today, 2019-09-22 |
| United States | Imports from Taiwan tripled in two years to about US$50 million; Taiwan held 69% of import value | Liberty Times, 2023-04-01, citing Bloomberg |
| Global | Taiwan’s 2019 tapioca pearl exports estimated at about US$100 million | Commercial Times, 2019-10-03, citing TAITRA |
What’s Driving Exports?
- Taiwanese brands opening overseas: Business Today noted Taiwanese brands opening in Japan drove imports of Taiwanese pearls.
- Growth of local bubble tea shops: more shops in markets such as the US means more ingredient demand.
- Home and retail demand: more consumers make bubble tea at home.
- The brand value of “Taiwanese”: Taiwanese bubble tea is a selling point in itself.
4 Essentials for Exporting Bubble Tea Ingredients
- Destination regulations: for example US FDA facility registration, prior notice and FSVP; see Exporting Food to the US.
- Origin and declarations: since May 7, 2025, Taiwan-made goods shipped to the US must include a declaration of origin; see How to Apply for a Certificate of Origin.
- Certifications: ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, HACCP, Halal.
- Shipping and storage: raw, shelf-stable and frozen pearls have different storage conditions; see How to Store Tapioca Pearls.
For the full process, see The Taiwan Food Export Process.
Tang Sugar’s Tapioca Pearl Exports
Tang Sugar is a Taiwanese bubble tea ingredient export trader, supplying large, medium, small, white, golden, frozen and shelf-stable tapioca pearls, which can be consolidated in one container with teas, syrups and powders. We mainly serve Asia, the Americas and parts of Europe. Contact us or request samples.
Products in this article
All 8 Tapioca Pearls →
FAQ
Which countries import Taiwanese tapioca pearls?
Markets commonly cited in published reports include Japan and the US; 87% of Japan’s tapioca pearl imports in January–July 2019 came from Taiwan, and a 2023 report put Taiwan’s share of US import value at 69%.
How big are Taiwan’s tapioca pearl exports?
Commercial Times, citing a TAITRA estimate, reported Taiwan’s 2019 tapioca pearl exports at about US$100 million.
Why are Taiwanese tapioca pearls popular overseas?
Demand is driven by Taiwanese brands opening overseas, growth in bubble tea shops and home demand, plus the brand value of “Taiwanese bubble tea” itself.
What should you check when exporting tapioca pearls?
Destination food regulations, origin declarations, food safety and halal certifications, and shipping and storage conditions.
Further Reading
- Bubble Tea in Japan
- Bubble Tea in the USA
- How to Import Bubble Tea Ingredients from Taiwan
- Become a Bubble Tea Ingredient Distributor
Sources
- Business Today (2019-09-22): Japan goes crazy for Taiwanese bubble tea: nearly 90% of tapioca pearls come from Taiwan (in Chinese)
- Liberty Times (2023-04-01): Taiwanese bubble tea wins over Americans; tapioca pearl exports triple (in Chinese)
- Commercial Times (2019-10-03): Global bubble tea craze: a NT$30 billion opportunity (in Chinese)
