Makers of pearl jewelry from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are taking diverse steps to boost competitiveness. Mainland China is the biggest producer of cultured freshwater pearls, accounting for 90 percent of world supply. In fact, more than 1,500 tons of freshwater pearls, valued at about $4 billion, were cultivated there last year. The coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Hainan are home to the largest farms. This is the prime advantage jewelry makers in the mainland have over Taiwan counterparts. Some suppliers even have the capability to cultivate their own pearls, including one company interviewed for this report.

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