Taiwan Scores 17.1% Growth in Machine Tool Exports in 2007

Taipei, March 5, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$3.471 billion worth of machine tools in 2007, representing a 17.1% year-on-year growth, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the total exports, metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$2.73 billion, up 18.8% annually and metal-forming machine tools commanded US$740.61 million, up 11.2%.

In the category of metal-cutting machine tools, exports for machining centers grew 24.8%, those for lathes up 18.4%, grinding machines up 7.3% and milling machines up 21.2%.

In the metal-forming category, exports for presses and shearing machines rose 14.6% year-on-year to reach US$606.262 million, and shipments of other metal-forming machines dropped 2.2% to reach US$134.356 million.

Mainland China and Hong Kong together were the largest export outlet for Taiwan-made machine tools in 2007 by absorbing US$1.279 billion worth of the products from the island, accounting for 36.9% of the total exports and up 14.8% year-on-year. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$338.91 million, commanding 9.8% and up 5.2%. The third place went to Turkey with US$166.57 million, accounting for 4.8% and up 10.1%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, included Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Thailand, South Korea, India, United Kingdom, Brazil, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, and Spain.

The TMTF tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$2.542 billion worth of machine tools in 2007, representing a 26.4% year-on-year growth. Of the total imports, metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$2.448 billion, up 28.1%; and metal-forming machine tools US$93.66 million, down 5.5%.

TMTF said major machine tools imported into Taiwan in 2007 were non-conventional machine tools, machining centers, lathes, boring and milling machines, and grinding machines.

Taiwan's imports of presses and shearing machines amounted to US$75.047 million in 2007, down 1.6%; and those of other metal-forming machines reached US$18.615 million, down 18.7%.

Japan was the island's largest import source by selling US$1.1635 billion worth of machine tools to Taiwan in 2007, up 31.9% year-on-year and accounting for a whopping 45.8% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$989.02 million, up 26.9% and commanding 38.9%. South Korea came third with US$117.41 million, up 107% and accounting for 4.6%.

TMTF's chief executive officer C.C. Wang noted many domestic manufacturers in this line believed they would continue to see influx of orders from abroad in 2008, especially from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, India, North America, European Union, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in 2007 by Products       Unit: US$1,000
Products	2006	2007	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	142,567	135,358	-5.1
Machining Centers	925,354	1,154,834	24.8
Lathes	587,169	695,379	18.4
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	300,210	363,778	21.2
Grinding Machines	184,567	197,957	7.3
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	158,159	183,087	15.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	528,803	606,262	14.6
Other Metal-forming Machines	137,359	134,356	-2.2
Total	2,964,188	3,471,011	17.1
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in 2007 by Products                                           Unit: US$1,000
Products	2006	2007	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1,630,420	2,149,571	31.8
Machining Centers	33,789	47,887	41.7
Lathes	74,988	91,122	21.5
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	37,372	40,407	8.1
Grinding Machines	105,812	85,460	-19.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	29,218	34,112	16.7
Presses and Shearing Machines	76,256	75,047	-1.6
Other Metal-forming Machines	22,903	18,615	-18.7
Total	2,010,758	2,542,221	26.4
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation