Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 2/6/2007

**GAIN Report Number:** TW7005

TW7005

**Taiwan**

**Livestock and Products**

**Record Beef Imports**

**2007**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Alan Hallman

American Institute in Taiwan

**Prepared by:**

Rosemary Kao

**Report Highlights:**

Taiwan imported a record amount of U.S. beef in 2006 as consumers
enthusiastically responded to the reopening of the market to U.S. beef.
Total beef imports also set a record partly due to an increase in beef
consumption that is expected to continue. In addition importers built
beef stocks, anticipating that the Korean market would open to U.S.
beef. Taiwan imports of beef are expected to decline slightly in 2007 as
those stocks are drawn down. The local pig industry is under stress due
to high corn prices and low product prices as producers reduce the age
at which they slaughter animals.

Includes PSD Changes: Yes

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Taipei \[TW1\]

\[TW\]

**Table of Contents**

[Executive Summary 3](#executive-summary)

[Beef 3](#beef)

[Supply Situation 3](#supply-situation)

[Trade 3](#trade)

[Policy 4](#policy)

[Swine 6](#swine)

[Production 6](#production)

[Prices 6](#prices)

[Consumption 7](#consumption)

[Trade 7](#trade-1)

[Policy 9](#policy-1)

[Internet Resources 11](#internet-resources)

# Executive Summary

Consumers enthusiastically responded to the reopening of the market to
U.S. beef on January 25^th^ 2006 and were more than happy to replenish
their depleted personal stockpiles. At least one retailer relabeled beef
from another country as U.S. beef in order to receive higher prices just
as the market was reopening. While only boneless cuts are allowed into
Taiwan, imports of U.S. beef now exceed those of New Zealand, but still
trail Australia, in value terms. Total beef imports also set a record
due to an increase in beef consumption and an increase in beef stocks.
Consumption is expected to continue to increase, but the stock building
was in anticipation that the Korean market would open to U.S. beef. We
expect Taiwan imports of beef to decline slightly in 2007 as the stocks
are drawn down.

The local pig industry is under stress due to high corn prices and low
product prices as producers reduce the age at which they slaughter
animals. Eighty percent of swine producers are reportedly losing money
in the current environment, and that is without including land costs,
depreciation, and the labor of the owners. While most producers are
expected to survive, smaller producers are already suffering from high
mortality partly due to under investment in new facilities. Taiwan lost
its overseas markets ten years ago due to foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease,
is currently trying to regain access to Singapore, and is planning to
eliminate FMD vaccination. While pork imports are not particularly
large, the U.S. exported approximately one billion US dollars of corn
and soybeans to Taiwan in 2006, and the difficulties facing the pork and
poultry industries place that trade at some risk.

# Beef

## 

## Supply Situation

Taiwan's beef demand is mainly met by imports. Domestic beef production,
mostly from spent dairy cattle, totaled 5,000 mt CWE in 2006. CY2006
beef supply increased 11 percent to 108,000, CWE, thanks to the
resumption of U.S. beef imports on January 25, 2006. While beef
consumption increased in 2006 is expected to continue to do so in 2007,
beef supply is forecast to decrease slightly to 102,000 mt, as importers
need to deplete U.S. beef stockpiled since last summer when Taiwan
importers expected the Korean market to compete for beef.

## 

## Trade

In 2006, Taiwan's total beef imports reached a historic high of 74,337
mt (101,000 mt, CWE, conversion factor 1.36). The statistics in the PS&D
table are the sum of beef imports CWE plus 1,857 mt of beef bones
(conversion factor 1.0). The 11 percent increase was due mainly to the
resumption of U.S. beef imports on January 25, 2006. U.S. beef imports
not only set a new record in volume, but also replaced New Zealand as
Taiwan's Number 2 beef supplier in terms of import value. Taiwan
importers, who feared that U.S. beef would be in short supply or too
expensive to afford following Korea's market opening, booked a lot of
U.S. beef, notably boneless short ribs, in the 2006 summer.

Comparison of beef imports in 2005 and 2006 is as follows: (in metric
tons, PWE)

+-----+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+-------+
|     | U.S. | Aus.  | New   | P     | Nic    | Pa     | Ot   | Total |
|     |      |       | Ze    | anama | aragua | raguay | hers |       |
|     |      |       | aland |       |        |        |      | Im    |
|     |      |       |       |       |        |        |      | ports |
+-----+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+-------+
| 2   | 7    | 3     | 2     | 1,411 | 862    | 0      | 0    | 6     |
| 005 | ,041 | 0,254 | 8,092 |       |        |        |      | 7,660 |
+-----+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+-------+
| 2   | 19   | 2     | 2     | 1,649 | 1,265  | 431    | 21   | 7     |
| 006 | ,296 | 8,467 | 3,208 |       |        |        |      | 4,337 |
+-----+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+-------+

Source: Council of Agriculture compiled from Customs data

CY2007 total imports are forecast at 97,000 mt CWE, down 6 percent from
the 2006 record as the market works through the current supply. Canadian
beef and products were banned entry on May 21, 2003 in response to the
detection of BSE in Canada. As instructed, this report assumes that this
situation remains in 2007. A Taiwan beef safety delegation just returned
from its Canadian visit. Post will report any development over the
market access of Canadian beef into the Taiwan market.

Taiwan accepts U.S. fresh/frozen boneless beef derived from animals
under 30 months of age. FSIS Forms 9285-1, 9060-5, and the Letterhead
Certificate for Boneless Beef Intended for Export to Taiwan FSIS Form
2630-9, are to accompany the products. Effective with an October 9, 2006
slaughter date, beef derived from cattle imported from Canada for
immediate slaughter were not eligible. Only those facilities listed
under the USDA Verification Program are eligible to export beef to
Taiwan. The listing of eligible suppliers to the USDA EV programs can be
found on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website:

<http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/LSOfficialListingEVProgram.pdf>

Imports of U.S. beef are estimated at 15,000 mt (20,000 mt CWE) in 2007.
The 2007 beef imports and the U.S. share are dependent on changes in
international beef food safety policy and market access situation in
individual beef importing market. Subsequent updates will be provided to
reflect significant changes, like Taiwan's acceptance of Canadian beef
or the expansion of the currently-approved meat items.

Beef offal imports were liberalized on Jan. 1, 2002 upon WTO accession.
Offal imports are not taken into account in the PS&D table. The recent
market opening for U.S. beef does not include offal or processed beef
products, which means that the BSE import ban remains for these
products.

Comparison of Beef Offal Imports in 2005 and 2006 (mt)

+--------+-----+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| Sup    | U   | P     | Aus    | Costa | New    | Nic    | Total  |
| plying | .S. | anama | tralia |       | Z      | aragua |        |
| Source |     |       |        | Rica  | ealand |        | I      |
|        |     |       |        |       |        |        | mports |
+--------+-----+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| 2005   | 0   | 56    | 785    | 0     | 401    | 110    | 1,352  |
+--------+-----+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| 2006   | 0   | 81    | 438    | 12    | 215    | 78     | 824    |
+--------+-----+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+

*Source: Council of Agriculture compiled from Customs data*

## Policy

In June 2006, Taiwan Council of Agriculture approved imports of Jersey
cattle. This ended decades of a Holstein-only policy. In 2006, 131 live
cattle, all Jersey breed, were imported into Taiwan from Australia. Due
to the heat tolerance of the breed, more Jersey cattle are expected to
be imported to this tropical/subtropical island in 2007. However, the
Holstein, with more milk output, will remain the most popular breed in
the dairy herd.

  --------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- --------------- ---------- -- ----------- ----------- --
  **PSD Table**                                                                                                                               

  **Country**     **Taiwan**                                                                                                                  

  **Commodity**   **Meat, Beef                                                          (1000                                                 
                  and Veal**                                                            HEAD)(1000 MT                                         
                                                                                        CWE)(PERCENT)                                         

                  2005         Revised                2006       Estimate               2007            Forecast                  UOM         

                  USDA\        Post\      Post\       USDA\      Post\      Post\       USDA\           Post\         Post\                   
                  Official     Estimate   Estimate\   Official   Estimate   Estimate\   Official        Estimate      Estimate\               
                                          New                               New                                       New                     

  **Market Year                01/2005    01/2005                01/2006    01/2006                     01/2007       01/2007     MM/YYYY     
  Begin**                                                                                                                                     

  Slaughter       0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 HEAD) 
  (Reference)                                                                                                                                 

  Beginning       0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  Stocks                                                                                                                          CWE)        

  Production      5            5          6           5          5          5           5               0             5           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Intra-EU        0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  Imports                                                                                                                         CWE)        

  Other Imports   92           92         92          98         98         103         100             0             97          (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Total Imports   92           92         92          98         98         103         100             0             97          (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Total Supply    97           97         98          103        103        108         105             0             102         (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Intra EU        0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  Exports                                                                                                                         CWE)        

  Other Exports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Total Exports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Human Dom.      97           97         98          103        103        108         105             0             102         (1000 MT    
  Consumption                                                                                                                     CWE)        

  Other Use,      0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  Losses                                                                                                                          CWE)        

  Total Dom.      97           97         98          103        103        108         105             0             102         (1000 MT    
  Consumption                                                                                                                     CWE)        

  Ending Stocks   0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Total           97           97         98          103        103        108         105             0             102         (1000 MT    
  Distribution                                                                                                                    CWE)        

  CY Imp. from    10           10         10          18         18         26          0               0             21          (1000 MT    
  U.S.                                                                                                                            CWE)        

  CY. Exp. to     0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  U.S.                                                                                                                            CWE)        

  Balance         0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Inventory       0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
  Balance                                                                                                                         CWE)        

  Weights         0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Production      0            0          0           0          0          -17         0               -100          0           (PERCENT)   
  Change                                                                                                                                      

  Import Change   15           0          15          7          7          12          2               -100          -6          (PERCENT)   

  Export Change   0            0          0           0          0          0           0               0             0           (PERCENT)   

  Trade Balance   -92          -92        -92         -98        -98        -103        -100            0             -97         (1000 MT    
                                                                                                                                  CWE)        

  Consumption     14           0          14          6          6          10          2               -100          -6          (PERCENT)   
  Change                                                                                                                                      
  --------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- --------------- ---------- -- ----------- ----------- --

(The conversion factor used to derive beef to carcass weight equivalent
(CWE) is 1.36. Imports of beef bones are also included in the PS&D Table
at a conversion factor of 1.0. Imports of beef variety meats (offal) are
not included in the PSD table.)

# Swine

## Production

A recent pig inventory survey conducted in November 2006 showed that
almost all categories are in a downward trend, prompting a smaller pig
production in 2007. Pig slaughter is estimated at 9.45 million head in
CY2007, off marginally from the Council of Agriculture's production
target of 9.5 million. Preliminary CY2006 pig slaughter estimate is 9.75
million head.

Taiwan Hog Population Data

  --------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
                        Nov. 2005        May 2006         Nov. 2006

  No. of farms          12,930           12,905           12,671

  Pigs on farm          7,202,435        7,119,025        7,091,882

  Boars                 35,368           34,450           33,782

  Sows/gilts            841,322          822,686          808,219

  Sows                  749,761          730,695          720,624

  Gilts                 91,561           91,991           87,5951

  Fattening pigs        6,325,745        6,261,889        6,249,821

  Piglets               1,043,401        1,092,600        1,021,725

  Under 30 kg           1,804,502        1,822,763        1,809,769

  30-60 kg              1,745,124        1,707,433        1,735,104

  Above 60 kg           1,732,718        1,639,093        1,683,223
  --------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------

*Source: Council of Agriculture*

In the survey, 85% of the hog farmers planned to keep the current herd
size while 3% hoped to expand and 10% might cut down their operation
scales.

Taiwan consumers cherish mature pork meat and pigs are usually raised
longer, 6.5 to 7 months in average. Fat pigs in the auction markets
averaged at 117.2 kg in 2006.

## Prices

Pig auction prices lingered around NT\$5,000 per 100 kg in 2006.
Sluggish pig prices combined with hiking feed prices prompted farmers'
petition to the Taiwan authorities for assistance in stabilizing pig
prices and sourcing cheaper feedstuffs other than corn imported from the
United States. They claimed that the more pigs they raised, the more
money they would be losing. Pig prices are being depressed further when
farmers flooded the market with fat pigs at lighter weight. Industry
representatives fear that even the Chinese New Year holiday, from
February 17 to 25, 2007, that usually prompts meat demand, is not likely
to boost pig prices. Despite the complaints, most farmers will just stop
expanding or slow investments but keep the current operation with a hope
not to be left behind when pig farming becomes profitable again. Pig
farming has been quite profitable in past years. Farmers are expected to
weather the downs with profits accumulated in the past. On the other
hand, the very high waste-water treatment cost makes it difficult for
new producers to enter the industry.

Taiwan Pig Auction Prices (NT\$/100 kg)

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 15%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><p>Year/</p>
<p>Month</p></td>
<td>CY2004</td>
<td>CY2005</td>
<td><p>CY2006</p>
<p>(Preliminary)</p></td>
<td><p>July</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
<td><p>Aug.</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
<td><p>Sept.</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
<td><p>Oct.</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
<td><p>Nov.</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
<td><p>Dec.</p>
<p>2006</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Prices</td>
<td>5,912</td>
<td>5,323</td>
<td>4,918</td>
<td>5,203</td>
<td>5,065</td>
<td>5,065</td>
<td>4,859</td>
<td>4,679</td>
<td>4,684</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

*Source: National Animal Industry Foundation*

Exchange rate: NT\$33.49=US\$1 in 2004; NT\$32.13=US\$1 in 2005 and
approximately NT\$32.52=US\$1 in 2006.

### 

## Consumption

Taiwan used to slaughter nearly one third of its pigs for pork exports,
virtually all to Japan. Exports to Japan peaked at 269,051 mt in 1996
until the foot-and-mouth (FMD) epidemic in March 1997. Prime meat was
exported while pork offal (variety meats) was left for domestic
consumption. Fewer pigs are raised after the FMD epidemic, leading a
strong demand for pork offal that needs to be supplemented by imports.
Retail prices of pork cuts and variety meats are tabulated below:
(NT\$/kg, Source: Council of Agriculture)

  ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
  Month/Year   Loin       Shoulder   Belly      Ham        Loin,      Short Ribs
                                                           bone-in    

  CY2006       190.00     148.87     153.32     Ham        151.77     189.59

  01/2006      191.43     153.34     157.71     144.76     151.00     191.38

  12/2006      190.76     145.71     152.05     140.90     150.67     184.62
  ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

  --------- -------- ---------- ----------- ----------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
  Time      Fore-    Hind-leg   Small       Large       Stomach   Heart    Kidney   Tongue   Liver    Back
            leg                 Intestine   Intestine                                                 fat

  CY2006    124.88   94.90      126.57      154.65      159.79    160.69   279.86   134.77   119.69   41.49

  01/2006   130.52   93.05      122.76      155.10      159.53    162.96   284.81   136.76   121.00   42.81

  12/2006   123.43   97.33      128.09      151.29      157.43    157.71   273.62   132.14   119.05   39.71
  --------- -------- ---------- ----------- ----------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------

Taiwan consumers enjoy variety meats very much. Note from the above
tables that kidney sells at the highest price, NT\$279.86/kg in 2006.

Farm prices of imported corn and hog feed are listed below to illustrate
price hikes on feed: (NT\$/kg, Source: Council of Agriculture)

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  Month/Year     Imported Corn  Feed for Pigs  Feed for pigs  Feed for pigs
                                under 30 kg    30-60 kg       above 60 kg

  CY2006         6.44           12.20          10.87          10.39

  01/2006        6.12           12.09          10.78          10.30

  12/06          8.18           12.70          11.34          10.92
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

## Trade

Taiwan is a significant pork producer, and imports of pork are largely
determined by relative prices between Taiwan and the rest of the world.
Imports become significant when Taiwan pig prices are high and U.S. pork
prices are low, while the 2006 situation was the opposite. The U.S.
continues to be the leading pork supplier to the Taiwan market. U.S.
pork picnics, for processing purpose, are still well accepted in Taiwan.
CY2007 pork imports are estimated at 45,000 mt CWE, with the United
States taking 58 percent of the market share.

Comparison of Taiwan Pork Meat Imports in CY2005 and CY2006 (mt, PWE)

+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| Supp  | U   | Ca   | A    | De    | Sw   | Hun  | Neth    | T    |
| lying | .S. | nada | ustr | nmark | eden | gary | erlands | otal |
| S     |     |      | alia |       |      |      |         |      |
| ource |     |      |      |       |      |      |         | Imp  |
|       |     |      |      |       |      |      |         | orts |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| 2005  | 12, | 11   | 144  | 1,265 | 87   | 423  | 217     | 26   |
|       | 979 | ,057 |      |       |      |      |         | ,172 |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| 2006  | 10, | 6    | 102  | 221   | 175  | 121  | 115     | 18   |
|       | 919 | ,706 |      |       |      |      |         | ,359 |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+

Source: Council of Agriculture

Under Taiwan's WTO commitments, Special Safeguards (SSG) for pork belly
and pork variety meats came into play since 2005. CY2006 SSG trigger
volume and imports, CY2007 SSG trigger volume for pork belly and pork
offal, are as follows: (mt)

  --------------- ----------------- ------------------ -------------------
                  2006 SSG Volume   Preliminary 2006   2007 SSG Volume
                  Trigger           Imports under SSG  Trigger

  Pork Belly      11,762.5          8,190              11,563.6

  Pork Offal      23,637.5          19,947             21,979.6
  --------------- ----------------- ------------------ -------------------

Source: Council of Agriculture

The SSGs for both belly and offal were not triggered in 2006. Taiwan
consumed less pork in 2005 than the 2004 level. This resulted in a
smaller 2007 SSG volume for both pork belly and offal, as the
calculation equation mandates.

Preliminary CY2006 pork belly and pork offal imported under SSG are as
follows: (in mt)

  ------- -------- -------- ----------- --------- -------- --------- --------- ------- --------
          U.S.     Canada   Australia   Denmark   Sweden   Hungary   Finland   Neth.   Total

  Belly   4,191    3,342    102         169       150      121       0         115     8,190

  Offal   13,512   4,194    69          917       102      260       12        881     19,947
  ------- -------- -------- ----------- --------- -------- --------- --------- ------- --------

Source: Council of Agriculture

Taiwan's pork offal SSG only consists of 4 tariff items: pig hocks (HS
0206.30.20 and 0206.49.30), guts including intestines and stomachs (HS
0504.00.21) and prepared and processed pork offal (HS 1602.49.30). The
above 19,947 mt of offal imports represent the sum of 12,555 mt of hocks
and 7,392 mt of intestines (including rectum) and stomach. Not all pork
variety meats are subject to the SSG. Imports of pork liver, tendon and
other offal items, that totaled 5,913 mt in 2006, with 2,525 mt being
supplied by the U.S., are not counted against the SSG. Imports of pork
offal, whether or not classified under SSG, are not taken into account
in the PSD table.

In 2006, the U.S. remains the leading supplier of pork offal, mainly
hocks, rectum, stomach and cheek meat. Unlike pork meat that is used
mainly by processors, pork offal is able to penetrate into the catering,
institutions, cheaper restaurants, cafeteria and night markets. Domestic
pork offal is mostly taken as home consumption.

## Policy

For decades, Taiwan only allowed imports of pure-breed Hampshire,
Yorkshire, Duroc and Lanrace. The "Bershire" breed was approved in
recent years. Imports of Bershire pigs totaled 78 head in 2004; 23 head
in 2005 but nil in 2006. However, hybrid pigs are not permitted entry.

In order to prevent Avian Influenza from being introduced into
pig/poultry herd by migratory birds, the authorities have launched an
animal disease control program, with financial assistance, to require
netting outside of pig/poultry stalls. Reportedly, over 90 percent of
farms have filed requests for the financial assistance. Those farmers
who ignored the new requirement are subject to a fine ranging from
NT\$10,000 to NT\$50,000.

In May 2003, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) recognized
Taiwan's FMD status as free with vaccination. Taiwan announced in
December 2006 that it had successfully eradicated FMD without
vaccination in a trial at Penghu, an offshore islet that raised 15,000
pigs. The authority plans to take the same 4-stage approach, starting
from April 2007 through July 2008, to do without FMD vaccination
island-wide. If Taiwan maintains no FMD cases for one year, it should be
able to apply to OIE for FMD-free without vaccination.

Taiwan has recently completed negotiation with Singapore to export raw
pork, pending the final approval of the protocol by Singapore, expected
in the spring of 2007. Prior to Taiwan's FMD epidemic in 1997, Singapore
was one of Taiwan's pork markets. Exports peaked at 28,630 mt in 1992.
The current waste-water requirements for pig farms will likely limit
Taiwan from exporting much pork. However, farmers welcome a more
diversified disposition of the occasional surplus of domestic pork.

In the long term, the very efficient Taiwan swine industry will continue
to produce pork for the local market, with imports mainly used for
processing or to supplement occasional shortfalls and with some exports
of prime meat being exported to the more affluent countries like
Singapore or Japan, that can afford costly Taiwan pork.

  --------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------------- ---------- ----------- -----------
  **PSD Table**                                                                                                                 

  **Country**     **Taiwan**                                                                                                    

  **Commodity**   **Animal                                                              (1000                                   
                  Numbers,                                                              HEAD)(PERCENT)                          
                  Swine**                                                                                                       

                  2005         Revised                2006       Estimate               2007             Forecast               UOM

                  USDA\        Post\      Post\       USDA\      Post\      Post\       USDA\            Post\      Post\       
                  Official     Estimate   Estimate\   Official   Estimate   Estimate\   Official         Estimate   Estimate\   
                                          New                               New                                     New         

  **Market Year                01/2005    01/2005                01/2006    01/2006                      01/2007    01/2007     MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                                                                       

  Total Beginning 6819         6819       6819        7172       7202       7172        7102             7102       7092        (1000 HEAD)
  Stocks                                                                                                                        

  Sow Beginning   828          828        828         838        841        838         830              0          808         (1000 HEAD)
  Stocks                                                                                                                        

  Production (Pig 11982        12000      11982       12100      12200      12100       12000            0          11800       (1000 HEAD)
  Crop)                                                                                                                         

  Intra-EU        0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)
  Imports                                                                                                                       

  Other Imports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Total Imports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Total Supply    18801        18819      18801       19272      19402      19272       19102            7102       18892       (1000 HEAD)

  Intra EU        0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)
  Exports                                                                                                                       

  Other Exports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Total Exports   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Sow Slaughter   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Other Slaughter 9499         9650       9499        9750       9800       9750        9550             0          9450        (1000 HEAD)

  Total Slaughter 9499         9650       9499        9750       9800       9750        9550             0          9450        (1000 HEAD)

  Loss            2130         1967       2130        2420       2500       2430        2352             0          2242        (1000 HEAD)

  Ending          7172         7202       7172        7102       7102       7092        7200             0          7200        (1000 HEAD)
  Inventories                                                                                                                   

  Total           18801        18819      18801       19272      19402      19272       19102            0          18892       (1000 HEAD)
  Distribution                                                                                                                  

  CY Imp. from    0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)
  U.S.                                                                                                                          

  CY. Exp. to     0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)
  U.S.                                                                                                                          

  Balance         0            0          0           0          0          0           0                -7102      0           (1000 HEAD)

  Inventory       353          383        353         -70        -100       -80         98               -7102      108         (1000 HEAD)
  Balance                                                                                                                       

  Inventory       1            0          1           5          6          5           -1               -1         -1          (PERCENT)
  Change                                                                                                                        

  Sow Change      2            0          2           1          2          1           -1               -100       -4          (PERCENT)

  Production      1            0          1           1          2          1           -1               -100       -2          (PERCENT)
  Change                                                                                                                        

  Production to   14.5         14.5       14.5        14.4       14.5       14.4        14.5             0          14.6        (PERCENT)
  Sows                                                                                                                          

  Trade Balance   0            0          0           0          0          0           0                0          0           (1000 HEAD)

  Slaughter to    139          142        139         136        136        136         134              0          133         (PERCENT)
  Inventory                                                                                                                     
  --------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------------- ---------- ----------- -----------

(The conversion factor used to derive pork meat to carcass weight
equivalent (CWE) is 1.43. Imports of pork bones are also included in the
PS&D Table at a conversion factor of 1.0. Imports of pork variety meats
(offal) are not included in the PSD table.)

# Internet Resources

Most Taiwan (.tw) domain websites are only in Chinese, but the amount of
English content is increasing.

[http://www.coa.gov.tw/english/index.htm]{.underline} for agricultural
statistics and general agricultural information (in English).

[http://www.baphiq.gov.tw]{.underline} for Taiwan quarantine
requirements (English version available).

[http://www.trade.gov.tw/english.index.htm]{.underline} for trade
statistics, trade rules, TRQ bidding rules and general trade information
(English version available).

[http://www.customs.gov.tw](http://www.customs.gov.tw/) for tariff
classification and rates, customs practice and SSG fill rate

[http://www.wto.org]{.underline} The WTO website for information about
Taiwan's WTO accession.

[http://www.doca.mof.gov.tw]{.underline} for tariff reduction schedule
(English version available) and TRQ implementation measures.

[http://210.69.119.40/seadb]{.underline} for Special Safeguards
application (Chinese only).

[http://www.naif.org.tw]{.underline} for pig auction prices and pork
retail prices (Chinese only).

[http://www.ams.usda.gov](http://www.ams.usda.gov/) for U.S. beef
facilities eligible for exports to Taiwan and other EV Program
requirements