Taiwan                                   

Taiwan                                                                                          

Taiwan’s Beef Stocks Still High

Despite a ban on U.S. beef (the U.S. exported 19,225 metric tons (mt) of beef and beef variety meat to Taiwan in 2003), USMEF-Taiwan reports that the island nation’s beef stocks are so high they’re depressing demand. Traders are postponing orders from Australia and New Zealand and have cut prices for low-end meats to reduce inventories. Taiwan meets most of its beef demand through imports. Domestic beef production is a byproduct of the dairy herd, accounts for less than six percent of consumption, and is unlikely to grow.

The trade is also concerned that when the beef ban is lifted, it might only be for boneless beef, and importers are trying to promote boneless products and Australian and New Zealand bone-in substitutes. Attempts to promote Australian and New Zealand grain-fed chilled products in retail markets have not lived up to traders’ expectations. U.S. exports of beef cuts to Taiwan are primarily rib eyes, bone-in short ribs, strip loins, top blade muscle, chuck short ribs, chuck flap, heel muscle, rib finger, chuck eye roll and short plate. 

USMEF-Taiwan reports that concerns about U.S. beef mostly center on procedures for specific risk material removal and the transparency of the U.S. inspection system. USMEF is working to reassure importers and consumers, as we reported last week, through, amongst other things, a comic book for consumers, which explains the whole story of the single BSE case in the U.S. and the measures taken to keep U.S. beef safe and a more detailed BSE guidebook.

Taiwan                                                                                          

Taiwan’s Beef Stocks Still High

Despite a ban on U.S. beef (the U.S. exported 19,225 metric tons (mt) of beef and beef variety meat to Taiwan in 2003), USMEF-Taiwan reports that the island nation’s beef stocks are so high they’re depressing demand. Traders are postponing orders from Australia and New Zealand and have cut prices for low-end meats to reduce inventories. Taiwan meets most of its beef demand through imports. Domestic beef production is a byproduct of the dairy herd, accounts for less than six percent of consumption, and is unlikely to grow.

The trade is also concerned that when the beef ban is lifted, it might only be for boneless beef, and importers are trying to promote boneless products and Australian and New Zealand bone-in substitutes. Attempts to promote Australian and New Zealand grain-fed chilled products in retail markets have not lived up to traders’ expectations. U.S. exports of beef cuts to Taiwan are primarily rib eyes, bone-in short ribs, strip loins, top blade muscle, chuck short ribs, chuck flap, heel muscle, rib finger, chuck eye roll and short plate. 

USMEF-Taiwan reports that concerns about U.S. beef mostly center on procedures for specific risk material removal and the transparency of the U.S. inspection system. USMEF is working to reassure importers and consumers, as we reported last week, through, amongst other things, a comic book for consumers, which explains the whole story of the single BSE case in the U.S. and the measures taken to keep U.S. beef safe and a more detailed BSE guidebook.