February 15, 2006

Taiwan's beef imports to rise in 2006

In USDA's Jan 27 report on Taiwanese livestock and products, USDA forecast Taiwan's total 2006 beef imports to reach 98,000 tonnes, an increase from an estimated 92,000 tonnes in 2005.

The increase is partly due to Taiwan's announcement on Jan 25, 2006 that it would immediately resume imports of a limited range of US beef products. However, the US is not expected to immediately regain its pre-ban market share of 22 percent or 16,000 tonnes.

The resumption of US beef imports will also cause Taiwan's 2006 beef consumption to rise to 103,000 tonnes, an increase of 6,000 tonnes over 2005.

Meanwhile, USDA predicts that Taiwan's pig production in 2006 is likely to grow slightly from the 2005 level. Pig slaughter is estimated at 9.65 million head in 2005 and expected to reach 9.8 million head in 2006.

For 2005, total pork meat imports declined 35 percent to 26,172 tonnes. Pork bone imports in 2005 totaled 985 tonnes. The US replaced Canada as the Taiwan's leading pork supplier in 2005, a situation likely to continue in 2006.

For the full USDA report, click here.