A rare convergence of three powerful typhoons in July has battered key agricultural and aquaculture regions across China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Typhoons Wipha, Danas, and Co-May have collectively caused hundreds of millions in damages.
Typhoon Wipha Deals Blow to Vietnam’s Rice and Shrimp Exports
Figure 1. Approximate path and impact zone of Typhoon Wipha, which reached Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale
Typhoon Wipha formed on July 18 near the northern Philippines and intensified to Category 1 before making landfall in Guangzhou, China, and later striking northern Vietnam. Wipha lashed southern China with winds up to 75 mph, triggering floods and landslides across Guangdong Province, a key area for rice, bananas, sugar cane, and lychees. While infrastructure damage was widespread, early indications suggest agricultural damage in China may be limited.
The impact in Vietnam, however, is far more severe. Wipha flooded more than 295,000 acres of rice fields across Ninh Bình, Hưng Yên, and Thanh Hóa provinces, submerging 160,000 acres of newly planted crops. Recovery efforts include the deployment of over 750 water pumps to drain flooded farmland. This comes just weeks after Typhoon Wutip damaged an additional 50,000 acres of rice fields, compounding recovery challenges and threatening Vietnam’s position as the world’s third-largest rice exporter (13% of global supply).
Vietnam’s aquaculture and livestock sectors were also hit hard. Over 370,000 acres of shrimp and fish farms, along with 20,000 floating cages, were at risk. The Red River Delta, which accounts for 25% of Vietnam’s shrimp production, could see production shortfalls, potentially tightening global seafood supplies. In addition, there have been reports that over 3,000 cattle and large quantities of poultry were lost.
In the Philippines, Wipha caused damage, primarily across Luzon, affecting more than 36,000 acres of rice and other crops like corn, bananas, tomatoes, and watermelons. Livestock and fisheries, including milkfish and tilapia, were also impacted.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines, livestock and poultry losses amounted to about $92,000, affecting 965 heads of chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, goat, duck, sheep, turkey, and guinea fowl.
It is understood, however, that the ongoing floods triggered by Wipha are not affecting Vietnamese coffee farms. “No coffee farms are affected by floods, and the rain is actually good for the farms as the coffee beans are in the growing stage,” a trader told Reuters on July 24.
Typhoon Danas Hits Taiwan
Figure 2. Approximate path and impact zone of Typhoon Danas, which reached Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Typhoon Danas struck Taiwan’s Chiayi County on July 6, the first typhoon to hit the island’s western region in over a century, after forming in the South China Sea and intensifying to Category 2 strength. It then made landfall in Zhejiang, China, before dissipating over Fujian Province on July 9.
While Eastern China reported limited agricultural impact, southern and central Taiwan endured severe losses. Official estimates peg agricultural damages at over $85 million, with 44,000 acres of crops affected and extensive damage to greenhouses and protective structures.
The storm devastated banana crops (nearly 5,000 acres) and also damaged pomelos, guava, oranges, and bamboo shoots.
Over 400,000 poultry and numerous pigs, geese, and ducks were lost. Total livestock losses were estimated at approximately $1.1 million, with chickens representing the largest share of the total. Damage to oyster farms exceeded $6 million.
Typhoon Co-May’s Full Impact Still to Be Assessed
Figure 3. Approximate path and impact zone of Typhoon Co-may, which reached Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Typhoon Co-May, the most recent of the trio, formed on July 23 off the Philippine coast, making landfall in northern Luzon before sweeping across Okinawa, Japan, and strengthening again ahead of landfall near Shanghai, China on July 27, with wind speeds up to 80 mph.
In the Philippines, the storm caused $2.6 million in agriculture damage. The province of La Union reported flooding of 1,500 acres of rice and corn fields. La Trinidad, also known for its lettuce and strawberries, saw berry farms inundated. As a result, farmers are concerned for the upcoming harvest season.
The storm’s impact in southern China, where it was forecast to arrive by July 30, has yet to be fully assessed. However, early warnings highlight potential risks to already saturated farmlands, particularly those still recovering from Wipha’s impact.
Co-authored by:
Demelza Knight, Weather and Crop Researcher
James Tyler, Weather and Crop Researcher
Courtney Shum, Senior Editor – Americas
Image sources:
Hero image: Getty
Maps: Expana
Written by Simon Duke
