September 30, 2010
Record Taiwan beef imports in 2009-10
Beef imports into Taiwan during 2009-10 jumped 25% compared with the previous year, reaching a new record of 82,123 tonnes swt.
Driving the import growth was the rejuvenation in foodservice demand, as the economic recovery from last year's global financial crisis continued into 2010.
Significantly driving the rise in Taiwan beef imports during 2009-10 were imports from the US which surged 80% year-on-year, to 22,649 tonnes swt, supported by the stable US dollar compared with the Taiwan dollar. During 2009-10, US beef represented about 28% of Taiwan's imported beef market.
Despite the high Australian dollar, beef imports from Australia, the largest beef supplier to Taiwan during 2009-10 increased 5% to 31,362 tonnes swt - 38% of the total beef imported into Taiwan.
Taiwan's imports of New Zealand beef rose 11% a year ago to 21,113 tonnes swt (26% share), and volumes from Canada almost doubled to 3,158 tonnes swt (4% share). Beef imports from Central and South America also bounced 38% to 3,841 tonnes swt, accounting for 5% of the imported beef market.
Chilled beef imports into Taiwan during 2009-10 also soared 67% to 6,982 tonnes swt, attributed mainly to the 133% rise in chilled US beef, to 4,306 tonnes swt. The US was the dominant supplier of chilled beef into Taiwan in 2009-10, with a 62% market share, followed by 24% from Australia and 13% from New Zealand.
