September 7, 2005
 

USDA: Taiwan poultry and products annual 2005

Taiwan today consumes approximately 762 thousand metric tons of poultry meat (about 85% of this chicken) and 7.5 billion eggs annually. This translates into around 32.5 kg of poultry and 380 eggs per capita. 

Local producers currently supply approximately 90% of the overall poultry meat and offal market, 90% of the broiler meat and offal market and 100% of the egg market.  The broiler meat present opportunities for continued significant US export growth over the coming 2-3 year period.

Generally high current market prices for meat proteins, coupled with a still relatively inefficient poultry domestic production base, saw imports into the broiler segment rise exponentially in the months immediately following liberalization. 

Continuing structural problems with domestic producers, high domestic prices, and increasingly sophisticated marketing programs on the part of overseas producers and associations are expected to help boost imports of broiler meat over the 100,000 mt level within 2 years (2007)-at which time imports could account for roughly 15% of broiler meat consumption. 

Taiwan's current limited beef imports and chronically high market prices for Taiwan's other two meat protein staples-pork and seafood-have been encouraging consumers to purchase more chicken over the past year plus and given local producers a welcome respite from nearly 5 years of pressure to reduce production and close less efficient producers. 

Significantly, this windfall broiler meat consumption is currently being shared relatively equally between local producers and importers (5:4).

Taiwan currently exports only limited quantities of poultry products, mostly fresh/frozen meat and prepared chicken and duck eggs, to customers in the region.

Despite relative stable year-to-year demand for poultry over the long-term, the outlook for imports is positive in the critical category of broiler meat. With a cost structure that is stacked against local birds, imported frozen chicken meat is expected to continue earning market share away from local producers through the foreseeable future. 

For the full USDA report, click here.