Taiwan - Poultry MeatsTaiwan - Poultry Meats

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.

Last Published: 11/8/2019

Overview

Taiwan’s domestic production of poultry products meets approximately 80 percent of demand. The United States and Canada are the two main suppliers of poultry imports to Taiwan, with the United States accounting for over 90 percent of the import market over the past several years. Total chicken imports hit a record high in 2018, exceeding 200,000 metric tons with a total value of $203 million, due to low U.S. poultry prices and sluggish local production.

In April 2018, Taiwan approved the importation of Polish poultry products. The first load of Polish chicken leg quarters arrived in Taiwan in July. Polish three-joint wings are price-competitive with local products, but Taiwan traders expect Polish poultry to have a limited trade impact on U.S. and Canada poultry exports to Taiwan. Highly-pathogenic and low-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI and LPAI) found in Canada and several U.S. states have also caused periodic restrictions on imports to Taiwan.

Poultry Market Unit: Metric Tons

	2016	2017	2018	2019 (est.)
Total Market Size	813,325	806,301	859,983	839,500
Total Local Production	657,178	653,681	651,000 (est.)	652,000
Total Exports	8,391	8,316	7,615	7,500
Total Imports	164,538	160,936	216,598	195,000
Imports from the U.S.	153,075	146,430	200,683	180,000
Exchange Rate: USD1	32.28	29.65	30.59	30.86

Total Market Size = (Total Local Production + Total Imports) – (Total Exports)
Data Sources: Council of Agriculture; Taiwan Directorate General of Customs

Leading Sub-Sectors

Taiwan consumers prefer dark meat to breast meat; consequently, the top import items are broiler thighs, legs, and trimmings. Imports of U.S. poultry meat are expected to be stable over the next few years, even as the market adjusts to increasing competition.

Opportunities

There are significant opportunities in the Taiwan poultry products market, especially for producers that can meet importers’ cut and packaging specifications. Imported poultry has gained market acceptance in the processed food, catering, and food service sectors. Due to improvements in thawing technology and rising consumer acceptance of frozen and thawed poultry, the retail market is increasingly receptive toward U.S. poultry products.

Web Resources

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) website offers the following resources for U.S. exporters:

Official data on agriculture trade for specific products and commodities
GAIN Reports on international food and agricultural markets
FAS services for U.S. exporters and information on USDA market development programs
The USDA website lists current agricultural export requirements for Taiwan.

For additional information on the Taiwan market for food and agricultural products or to exhibit in the USA Pavilion at the Taipei International Food Show, please contact AIT's Agricultural Trade Office at: ATOTaipei@fas.usda.gov.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.