Market Overview
Taiwan has a population of 23.5 million and per capita rice consumption is estimated at 97.9 lbs per year. The U.S. is the largest rice supplier to Taiwan, accounting for about half of their imports valued at nearly $40 million in 2019.
Based on their commitments when they joined the World Trade Organization, Taiwan must import 144,720 MT (brown rice basis); the U.S. has a country specific quota of 64,634 MT (brown rice basis). In recent years, U.S. exports have been dominated by southern medium grain rice, with their share exceeding 95% of the total volume with a small quantity of glutinous short grain rice originating in California.
USA Rice Activities
USA Rice conducts technical research and seminars targeting chefs and chain restaurant R&D staff. There has been rapid growth in the “central kitchen” concept in foodservice whereby rice and other meal ingredients are cooked in a central kitchen then transported to individual restaurants either in chilled or frozen form. USA Rice also provides rice importers with up-to-date information about the U.S. rice crop and the rice industry, providing technical trainings when needed. A strong social media presence and in-store promotions have helped promote U.S. rice at the consumer level.