February 9, 2005

Ban on U.S. beef boosts Taiwanese pork consumption

The U.S. Ag Attache in Taiwan says that country's ban U.S. beef remains in place and continues to impact the nation's red meat market. In a report issued by Department of Agriculture's Foreign Ag Service, the ag attache in Taipei forecasts Taiwan's beef imports at eighty thousand metric tons, the same as last year but down significantly from the ninety-eight thousand metric tons of beef Taiwan imported in 2003.

The report shows Taiwan increased pork imports last year to offset the reduced beef supply. Taiwan's pork imports are forecast to grow another 11 percent this year.