Taiwan eyes Japan for fresh pork, U.S. for processed meat exports

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) Taiwan is aiming to export fresh pork to Japan and processed pork products to the United States, after becoming the only country in Asia free of African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), an agricultural official said Sunday.

Taiwan was a major supplier of fresh pork to Japan until a severe FMD outbreak in March 1997 drastically curtailed its exports.

In 2020, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) officially recognized Taiwan as free of FMD without vaccination, paving the way for the resumption of fresh pork exports.

Taiwan resumed fresh pork exports to the Philippines in September 2023, the first shipment in more than two decades. It then resumed fresh pork exports to Singapore earlier this year, following a 15-year hiatus.

Taiwan was recognized as free of ASF in 2024 and declared free of classical swine fever in May this year, making it the only country in Asia free of all three major swine diseases. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) views this milestone as a golden opportunity to showcase the quality of Taiwanese pork on the global stage.

Time to expand exports

With Taiwan now free of all three major swine diseases, pork export negotiations are more favorable, and Japan is expected to be the next key market for fresh pork, said Hung Hsiao-chun (洪曉君), deputy head of the MOA's Department of International Affairs and incoming head of the agricultural division at Taiwan's U.S. representative office.

Processed pork products -- frozen, dried, or vacuum-packed after high-temperature treatment -- have longer shelf lives and generally face fewer import hurdles than fresh pork, giving them broader export potential, Hung told CNA by telephone.

According to Hung, Taiwan's processed meats are already exported to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia, but not yet to the U.S. or Europe.

Pricing and supply challenges

The MOA believes being free of swine diseases helps Taiwan's pork exports. However, there are still concerns over having enough pigs and maintaining a steady supply.

Yang Min-jui (楊旻叡), an executive at Sings Kout Meat in Pingtung County, said that pork prices in Taiwan are currently high and not very competitive. There are not enough pigs to meet domestic demand, let alone for steady exports, he added.

Yang said reopening pork exports to Japan would benefit both countries, but the government must first stabilize prices and increase pig production to improve export competitiveness.

Meanwhile, Lin Jeng-shiang (林正祥), director-general of the Taiwan Frozen Food Processors Association, pointed out that Taiwan's pig population currently meets about 90 percent of domestic demand, with the rest covered by imports.