Taipei: Taiwan’s non-alcoholic beverage industry reached a significant milestone in 2024, with its total output value surpassing NT$60 billion (US$2.07 billion) for the first time. This marks the tenth consecutive year of growth for the sector, as reported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

According to Focus Taiwan, the industry’s output value reached a record NT$61 billion last year, representing a 3.9 percent increase from the previous year. This growth continues a decade-long trend of rising production value. In the initial four months of 2025, the sector’s output rose by an additional 2.1 percent compared to the same period in 2024, reaching NT$18.5 billion.

The report highlights tea-based beverages as the leading segment within the non-alcoholic beverage market. Taiwan’s rich tea culture, combined with continuous innovation in flavors, has consistently driven growth in this category. In 2024, the output value of tea beverages increased by 8.3 percent year-over-year to NT$21.6 billion, accounting for 35.5 percent of the sector’s total value.

The industry is primarily fueled by domestic demand, with over 90 percent of the products sold within the local market. Taiwanese businesses also import a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to cater to the evolving preferences of consumers. Imports totaled US$215 million in 2024, a 5.2 percent rise from the previous year. Japan emerged as the largest foreign source, contributing US$31 million or 14.4 percent of the total imports, followed by Thailand with US$21 million and China and Hong Kong with US$19 million.

Domestically, the non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing sector comprises 336 companies. Kaohsiung hosts the highest number of these companies, with 55, followed by New Taipei with 43, Taoyuan with 41, and Taichung with 31. The non-alcoholic beverage category includes products with no more than 0.5 percent alcohol, such as tea-based drinks, sports drinks, mineral water, carbonated beverages, fruit and vegetable juices, and coffee drinks, in line with the industrial classification by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).