Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools Up 9.4% in January

Taipei, April 3, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$298.9 million worth of machine tools in January 2008, representing a 9.4% year-on-year growth, according to customs statistics compiled by the non-profit Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

The same tallies showed that exports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$236.4 million in January, up 13.3% from a year earlier; and exports of metal-forming machine tools came to US$62.49 million, down 3.4%.

Of metal-cutting machine tools, machining centers posted an annual export growth of 21.3% in January, compared to a growth of 27.3% for lathes, 23.2% for grinding machines; and 22% for milling machines.

In the category of the metal-forming machine tools, the TMTF's statistics showed exports of presses and shearing machines slumped 5.3% year-on-year in January. By contrast, exports for other kinds of metal-forming machine tools grew 5.4% annually in January.

In terms of major export outlets for domestically made machine tools, mainland China and Hong Kong together ranked first by absorbing US$84.45 million worth of the products from Taiwan in January, down 16.3% year-on-year and accounting for 28.3% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$28.74 million, down 9.4% and commanding 9.6%. The third place went to Germany with US$17.16 million, up a whopping 88.7% and accounting for 5.7%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Turkey, Italy, India, the Netherlands, Thailand, Spain, Vietnam, Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and France.

The TMTF's statistics also indicated that Taiwan imported US$200.33 million worth of machine tools in January this year, down 5.1% from a year earlier. Of this, import value for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$191.37 million, down 5.7% year-on-year, and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$8.95 million, up 10.2%.

The major imported items in January included non-conventional machine tools, machining centers, lathes, boring and milling machines, and grinding machines. C.C. Wang, chief executive officer of the TMTF, noted demand for imported machine tools by domestic high-tech firms began recovering in 2007.

The TMTF's statistics showed imports of presses and shearing machines grew 19.4% year-on-year in January while those of other kinds of metal-forming machines slid 54.7% annually.

Japan was Taiwan's largest import source by selling US$123.1 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in January, up a whopping 147% year-on-year and accounting for 61.5% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$55.64 million, down 53.7% and commanding 27.8%. Germany stood at the third place with US$5.31 million, down 42% and accounting for 2.7%.

Wang said many domestic manufacturers believed they would see continued growth in orders from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, European Union, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, for the rest of this year.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in January 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	January 2007	January 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	12,678	8,300	-34.6
Machining Centers	77,989	94,574	21.3
Lathes	54,431	69,314	27.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	28,061	34,235	22
Grinding Machines	19,863	15,248	-23.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	15,557	14,733	-5.3
Presses and Shearing Machines	53,178	50,372	-5.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	11,504	12,124	5.4
Total	273,270	298,900	9.4
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Taiwan's Imports of Machine Tools in January 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	January 2007	January 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	175,575	163,308	-7
Machining Centers	2,822	3,013	6.8
Lathes	6,167	9,608	55.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	3,959	3,863	-2.4
Grinding Machines	7,144	8,986	25.8
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	7,314	2,599	-64.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	7,114	8,494	19.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	1,014	459	-54.7
Total	211,109	200,330	-5.1
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation