The recent disaster in Japan has claimed another casualty in Taiwan's flower industry, as a variety of floral products, for which Japan has long been the major client country, are suddenly without buyers, causing losses worth about 95 million NT dollars.

Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami one week ago, and Taiwanese agricultural products that rely heavily on the Japanese market are suffering as well.

90% of domestically grown oncidiums, butterfly orchids, and flamingo flowers are exported to Japan, and the domestic horticultural market has suffered estimated losses of 95 million NT in the past week.

Far Pacific tuna, which is another of Taiwan's top exports to Japan, have been less affected because shipments are directly transported to Shizuoka's Port of Shimizu.

Near Pacific tuna, however, are generally flown to the harbor airport, which is now only processing cargo flights containing aid equipment and supplies.

The Fisheries Agency says that the tuna can be consumed domestically for the time being, and that it is optimistic about long-term sales to other nations.

Other top exports to Japan, including bananas and soybeans, have also been affected.

The Council of Agriculture says that trading companies can only seek out replacement markets for the time being, and that the government will also hold a series of "flower gifting" events to help Japan and domestic flower farmers.

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