April 6, 2023

 

Taiwan considers allowing special pork imports

 

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) is considering to allow special pork imports, after prices for the meat in the country increased to an average of NTD 99.03 (~US$3.24; NTD 10 = US$0.33) per kg, Taipei Times reported.

 

Local pork farmers raised pork prices in response to a drop in imports, as well as the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday.

 

According to the council's website, 22,000 swine were sold on Monday, with the average price over NTD 85 (~US$2.78) per kg, the previous market high. On Saturday and Sunday, the average price reached NTD 95 (~US$3.11) per kg, compared to NTD 90 (~US$2.95) per kg last month.

 

Chiang Wen-chuan, Taiwan's Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Industry, said pork prices are not expected to fall after Tomb Sweeping Day.

 

The COA said swine farming issues late last year, as well as planned upgrade projects and high feed costs, could result in a 4% to 5% reduction in domestic pork availability in the first half of this year.

 

Chiang said a 17% increase in international feed prices over the last year has resulted in a 10% decrease in the total number of swine raised in Europe, causing a spike in pork prices worldwide.

 

Local hog farmers anticipate a further increase in pork prices as imports fall, he said.

 

Taiwan imported 9,913 tonnes of pork in January and February, a decrease of 10,000 tonnes, or 48%, from the same period last year.

 

Chiang said the average weight of swine in the country is around 128 kg to 129 kg, which indicates that swine farmers are restricting sales.

 

He said the council has urged farmers to stop stockpiling and has also asked C.P. Group, Dachan Great Wall Group, and Taiwan Sugar Corp to increase the availability of domestic pork.

 

-      Taipei Times