Taiwan Sees Machine Tool Exports Grow 16.3% in First Two Months

Taipei, May 7, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$534.9 million worth of machine tools in the first two months of this year, representing a year-on-year growth of 16.3%, according to customs statistics compiled by the non-profit Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the above, exports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$426.53 million, up 18.4% year-on-year; while exports of metal-cutting machine tools reached US$108.36 million, up 8.7%.

In terms of specific export items in the category of metal-cutting machine tools, machining centers saw a 24.8% year-on-year growth, lathes up 33.3%, grinding machines down 8.9%, and drilling, boring and milling machines up 20%. In the area of metal-forming machine tools, the category of presses and shearing machines saw export grow 6.6% and the category of other metal-forming machine tools up 19.2%.

In terms of major export outlets, mainland China and Hong Kong ranked first by absorbing US$144.67 million worth of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first tow months of this year, down 3.3% year-on-year and accounting for 27%. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$49.49 million, down 14.1% and commanding 9.3%. The third place went to Germany with US$32.08 million, up a whopping 76.2% and commanding 6%.

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

The TMTF's tallies also showed that Taiwan imported US$317.88 million worth of machine tools in the first two months of this year, down 5.9% year-on-year. Of this, import value for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$304.12 million, down 6.5% annually and that for metal-forming machine tools reached US$13.76 million, up 9.1%.

Major metal-cutting machine tools imported by Taiwan in the first two months of this year were non-conventional machine tools (down 7.1% year-on-year), machining centers (up 37.7%), lathes (up 39.7%), drilling, boring and milling machines (up 24.4%), and grinding machines down (19.1%).

Of metal-forming machine tools, imports of presses and shearing machines grew 37.8% year-on-year in the first two months of this year, with other metal-forming machine tools down 78.3%.

In terms of supplier nations, Japan was Taiwan's largest import source by selling US$211.83 million worth of machine tools in the first two months of this year, up a whopping 155% year-on-year and commanding 66.6% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$74.59 million, down 60.7% and accounting for 23.5%. The third place went to Germany with US$8.25 million, down 39.5% and accounting for 2.6%.

Many domestic manufacturers of machine tools said they would see increasing orders for the rest of this year, especially from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, India, North America, European Union, East Europe and Latin America.

TMTF chief executive C.C. Wang said domestic machine-tool industry saw substantial growth in production in the fourth quarter of last year. He called for domestic machine-tool manufacturers to develop innovative products and raise product value to boost market shares globally.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-Feb. 2008) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Feb. 2007	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	21,586	17,906	-17
Machining Centers	140,310	175,115	24.8
Lathes	93,864	125,142	33.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	47,608	57,136	20
Grinding Machines	28,616	26,067	-8.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	28,220	25,173	-10.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	82,844	88,304	6.6
Other Metal-forming Machines	16,826	20,059	19.2
Total	459,874	534,902	16.3
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan (Jan.-Feb. 2008) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Feb. 2007	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	281,824	261,771	-7.1
Machining Centers	3,925	5,406	37.7
Lathes	10,187	14,230	39.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	5,084	6,326	24.4
Grinding Machines	15,313	12,939	-19.1
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	8,892	3,999	-55
Presses and Shearing Machines	9,495	13,083	37.8
Other Metal-forming Machines	3,122	677	-78.3
Total	337,842	317,885	-5.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation