US Poultry Exports to Taiwan Increase Due to High Pork Prices
TAIWAN and US - US poultry exports to Taiwan increased significantly during the first half of 2014 due to exceptionally high pork prices. The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Taiwan estimates that US poultry exports to Taiwan could see a record year in 2014 as more Taiwan consumers replace pork with poultry.
9 October 2014
3 minute read
By: Due to the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) outbreak in Taiwan, pork prices have drastically increased since the previous year.
According to foodservice operators, especially the catering industry, there are smaller margins in pork meals due to higher pork prices. In Taipei, a lunch box costs an average of NT$80-90 ($2.60-3.00), which is up nearly 10 per cent from the previous year.
The foodservice industry pays approximately NT$13.00 ($0.43) per portion for the pork loin meal while they only pay NT$8.00 (U.S.$0.27) cents for one chicken drum stick. As a result, demands for poultry have been increasing in the second and third quarter of CY2014, which is when local pork prices hit a record high.
From January to July (2014), US poultry exports increased 44.8 per cent in volume, or 87,415 metric tons (MT), compared to that same time period in 2013. In CY2013, the United States exported 94,306 MT of poultry products to Taiwan, and it is possible the United States has a record export total in CY2014.
Taiwan's World Trade Organization (WTO) special agricultural safeguards (SSG) for chicken wings
and legs are typically triggered in the latter half of the year.
Importers in Taiwan import more in the third quarter in order to avoid these tariff surcharges. This year, the chicken legs/wings SSG was triggered on September 5, 2014, with a final volume of 121,426.8 MT.
In comparison, the 2013 SSG for the same category was triggered on November 8, 2013, with a volume of 104,455.3 MT.
Taiwan's rate of self-sufficiency for poultry products is generally over 80 per cent. The United States and Canada are the two major poultry product suppliers for Taiwan, with the United States accounting for over 80 per cent of the import market over the past several years. According to Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA), pork prices may stabilize in the first quarter of 2015.
If this occurs, Taiwan poultry imports from the United States may decrease. However, this is a situation the ATO/Taiwan will continue to follow throughout the year.
