By: Clover Chang, U.S. Grains Council Director in Taiwan

Taiwan’s swine industry consumes roughly 3.4 million metric tons of feed, or about 47 percent of the nation’s total feed production. Taiwan produces only about one percent of the needed feed ingredients, so it is import dependent in grains. This makes Taiwan’s swine industry an important export market for U.S. grains and co-products.

The provision of information by the U.S. Grains Council plays an important role in maintaining this market. Taiwan’s swine industry lacks an adequate technical and institutional support structure to deal with industry problems. In addition, the new generation of swine producers are not yet familiar with the updated technology, equipment/facilities and production systems of hog production, and many do not fully appreciate the advantages of feeding U.S. grains.

With ever-increasing competition from other suppliers, the Council continues to assure Taiwan customers, including swine producers, of the quality and reliability of U.S. grains by providing timely and objective market information. This past month, the Council in Taiwan had the opportunity to discuss the findings of the 2013/2014 Corn Harvest Quality report with 40 swine producers, grain buyers and feed mill specialists at an industry conference jointly conducted with the National Animal Industry Foundation. The meeting – titled “Grain Market Information and Swine Industry Conference” – is held quarterly to introduce production, supply and demand of grains; and to discuss the current market situation of swine production with local producers.

The Council’s Corn Harvest Quality Report — a story of record production and high-quality — promotes the United States as the world’s most reliable long-term supplier of corn. Sharing these findings is a key step in building the Taiwanese swine industry’s confidence in U.S. grains and sustaining this important export market for U.S. grains and co-products.