U.S. remains top source of Taiwan grain imports in first six months of 2002

According to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan imported nearly $600 million worth of U.S. grains during the first six months of 2002. The United States remained Taiwan's top source of imported corn, soybeans, and wheat. Between January and June last year, 99.7 percent of the corn, 91 percent of the soybeans, and 91 percent of the wheat that Taiwan imported came from the United States.

In the first half of last year, Taiwan imported 2.45 million metric tons of U.S. corn worth approximately $271.34 million. Over the same period, Taiwan also imported 1.21 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans worth approximately $237.19 million and 538,120 metric tons of U.S. wheat worth about $88.36 million.

During this same time, only 0.3 percent of the corn imported by Taiwan came from outside the United States. The sole other supplier of soybeans to Taiwan was Brazil, which provided 9 percent. Only 6 percent of Taiwan's wheat imports came from Australia and 3 percent from Canada.

According to the U.S. publication Agricultural Statistics, 1 metric ton of corn equals 39.4 bushels, while 1 metric ton of soybeans or wheat equals 36.7 bushels.