Machine-Tool Industry Works Magic With Outstanding Performance in 2004
Feb 14, 2005 Ι Industry In-Focus
Ι Machinery & Machine Tools Ι By , CENS
Taiwan's machine-tool industry reaped outstanding rewards for players' individual efforts in 2004. Exports of domestically made machine tools amounted to US$2.249 billion last year, up 34% from the year earlier, according to statistics released by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).
Of this, metal-cutting machine tools saw exports reach US$1.674 billion, up 37% annually; metal-forming machine tools came to US$575 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 27%. In terms of specific product items, machining centers and lathes grew the most, each with a 43% annual growth rate.
In terms of the largest export outlets of the products, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$1.023 billion worth of domestically made machine tools last year, up 26% and accounting for 45.5% of the total export. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$195 million, jumping 58% and commanding 8.7% of the total. Turkey ranked third with US$128 million, up 59% and accounting for 5.7%.
TMTF's statistics also show Taiwan imported US$1.978 billion worth of machine tools last year, shooting up a whopping 130% from the previous year. The foundation credits the substantial growth in imports to the booming demand for foreign-made sophisticated machine tools by such hi-tech industries as optoelectronics and semiconductor and such conventional sectors as automobile and metal products.
Imports of metal-cutting and metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$1.87 billion and US$181 million last year, up 142% and 26% year-on-year, respectively. Of the top import items, non-conventional machine tools, machining centers, and lathes grew 183%, 79%, and 61% year-on-year, respectively.
Japan acted as the largest import source by selling US$1.043 billion worth of machine tools to Taiwan last year, up 97% annually and accounting for 52.8% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$680 million, representing an annual growth of 256% and commanding 34.4%. Germany was the third largest import source with US$82.24 million, up 71% and accounting for 4.3%.
Wang Cheng-ching, chief executive of TMTF, says domestic machine-tool industry experienced booming sales as many manufacturers in this year saw substantial growth in received orders and customers' request for squeezing delivery time.
A veteran domestic manufacturer anticipates the global demand for machine tools will still on the rise in the first quarter of this year and domestic manufacturers will have great chance to see substantial growth in orders from domestic market, mainland China, Southeast Asian nations, the U.S. and East European nations.
Some large-sized manufacturers in this line boast they are putting nose to the grindstone to cope with the influx of orders. At the end of January, most of the large-sized manufacturers, including Awea Mechantronic Corp., Victor Taichung Machinery Works Co., Goodway Machine Co., Chin Fong Machine Industrial Co., and Kao Fong Machinery Co., said they have received enough orders to keep production lines running till the end of June.
However, domestic manufacturers are encountering decline in shipments to mainland China which has been continuously cutting imports of the products since April last year when a government-imposed macroeconomic-control policy was carried out. Other disadvantages facing domestic manufacturers include the on-going rise of such raw materials as steel and cast iron as well as the insufficient supply of key components and parts.
In the face of such disadvantageous operating factors, TMTF's Wang calls on domestic manufacturers to speed up the pace of developing sophisticated products and elevating the added value of their products so that they can smoothly expand market shares in some emerging markets.
Of this, metal-cutting machine tools saw exports reach US$1.674 billion, up 37% annually; metal-forming machine tools came to US$575 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 27%. In terms of specific product items, machining centers and lathes grew the most, each with a 43% annual growth rate.
In terms of the largest export outlets of the products, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$1.023 billion worth of domestically made machine tools last year, up 26% and accounting for 45.5% of the total export. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$195 million, jumping 58% and commanding 8.7% of the total. Turkey ranked third with US$128 million, up 59% and accounting for 5.7%.
TMTF's statistics also show Taiwan imported US$1.978 billion worth of machine tools last year, shooting up a whopping 130% from the previous year. The foundation credits the substantial growth in imports to the booming demand for foreign-made sophisticated machine tools by such hi-tech industries as optoelectronics and semiconductor and such conventional sectors as automobile and metal products.
Imports of metal-cutting and metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$1.87 billion and US$181 million last year, up 142% and 26% year-on-year, respectively. Of the top import items, non-conventional machine tools, machining centers, and lathes grew 183%, 79%, and 61% year-on-year, respectively.
Japan acted as the largest import source by selling US$1.043 billion worth of machine tools to Taiwan last year, up 97% annually and accounting for 52.8% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$680 million, representing an annual growth of 256% and commanding 34.4%. Germany was the third largest import source with US$82.24 million, up 71% and accounting for 4.3%.
Wang Cheng-ching, chief executive of TMTF, says domestic machine-tool industry experienced booming sales as many manufacturers in this year saw substantial growth in received orders and customers' request for squeezing delivery time.
A veteran domestic manufacturer anticipates the global demand for machine tools will still on the rise in the first quarter of this year and domestic manufacturers will have great chance to see substantial growth in orders from domestic market, mainland China, Southeast Asian nations, the U.S. and East European nations.
Some large-sized manufacturers in this line boast they are putting nose to the grindstone to cope with the influx of orders. At the end of January, most of the large-sized manufacturers, including Awea Mechantronic Corp., Victor Taichung Machinery Works Co., Goodway Machine Co., Chin Fong Machine Industrial Co., and Kao Fong Machinery Co., said they have received enough orders to keep production lines running till the end of June.
However, domestic manufacturers are encountering decline in shipments to mainland China which has been continuously cutting imports of the products since April last year when a government-imposed macroeconomic-control policy was carried out. Other disadvantages facing domestic manufacturers include the on-going rise of such raw materials as steel and cast iron as well as the insufficient supply of key components and parts.
In the face of such disadvantageous operating factors, TMTF's Wang calls on domestic manufacturers to speed up the pace of developing sophisticated products and elevating the added value of their products so that they can smoothly expand market shares in some emerging markets.
| Source: Directorate General of Customs, Ministry
of Finance | |||
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