USMEF International Buyers Conference Product Showcase Registration Kit USMEF...

Taiwanese Imports Of U.S. Beef Increased In 2002, Further Growth Expected For 2003

Increasing purchases of high quality U.S. beef by expensive Taiwanese restaurants should increase total U.S. beef exports in 2003, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS) report. The FAS Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report expects U.S. market share to increase to slightly more than 20 percent in 2003, at the expense of declining New Zealand imports. In 2002, the U.S. exported 13,167 metric tons (mt) to Taiwan for a total market share of 20 percent - up from 19 percent in 2001.

Total beef imports by Taiwan for 2003 are expected to grow by 5 percent to 68,400 metric tons (mt), due to an improving economy and high local pork prices that are encouraging beef substitution; Taiwan’s economy grew 3.1 percent in 2002.

U.S. and Canadian beef imports are benefiting most from this economic growth, each with a 1 percent market share growth in 2002 that should increase again in 2003. Australia remained constant as the Taiwanese market leader with a 51 percent share. Joint marketing efforts by the U.S.-New Zealand-Australian Beef Alliance should increase demand for total beef products to more than 70,000 mt within 3 years, barring a long-term Middle East conflict that could disrupt Taiwan’s growth and increase oil prices, according to the GAIN report. 

The full FAS GAIN report is available at:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200301/145785179.pdf