Taiwan Saw Exports of Machine Tools Grow 20.8% in First Half of 2008

Taipei, Aug. 27, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.921 billion worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, representing a 20.8% year-on-year growth, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of this, exports for metal-cutting machine tools totaled US$1.5288 billion in the first half of this year, up 22.7% annually. Exports for metal-forming machine tools came to US$392.8 million, up 13.7%.

In terms of specific items, exports for machining centers totaled US$626.59 million, up 22.9%; that for lathes amounted to US$437.839 million, up 36%; that for grinding machines came to US$99.206, up 4.7%; that for drilling, boring and milling machines reached US$192.44 million, up 20.7%; that for presses and shearing machines came to US$315.839 million, up 11.8%; and that for other metal-forming machines totaled US$76.963 million, up 21.9%.

Hong Kong and mainland China together was the largest outlet of domestically made machine tools by absorbing US$564.79 million worth of the products from Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 2.5% year-on-year and accounting for 29.4% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$169.13 million, down a mere 0.4% and commanding 8.8%. Germany ranked third with US$107.01 million, up a whopping 83.4% and accounting for 5.6%. Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, India, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Japan, and Indonesia.

The TMTF's statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$957.11 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, down 24.6% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$910.02 million, down 25.6% year-on-year; imports for metal-forming machine tools totaled US$47.08 million, up 4.7%.

Japan was Taiwan's largest import source of machine tools by selling US$592.1 million worth of the products to Taiwan in the first half of this year, up 15.9% year-on-year and accounting for 61.9% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$216.97 million, down 59.8% and accounting for 22.7%. The third place went to Germany with US$32.11 million, down 13.6% and commanding 3.4%.

TMTF said most of Taiwan's machine-tool manufacturers performed very well last year and the prosperous situation will continue to the end of 2008 as world demand is still growing. Domestic manufacturers in this field believed they would see substantial growth in orders from such markets as Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, India, North America, European Union, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

TMTF CEO C.C. Wang said domestic machine-tool manufacturers have to work out effective ways to conquer such thorny problems as the appreciation of the N.T. dollar against the U.S. greenback and the price hike in cast iron, for the rest of this year.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-June 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2007	Jan.-June 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	70,687	81,016	14.6
Machining Centers	509,782	626,590	22.9
Lathes	322,048	437,839	36
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	159,390	192,440	20.7
Grinding Machines	94,744	99,206	4.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	88,891	91,779	3.2
Presses and Shearing Machines	282,427	315,839	11.8
Other Metal-forming Machines	63,161	76,963	21.9
Total	1,591,130	1,921,672	20.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in Jan.-June 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2007	Jan.-June 2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1,076,976	749,631	-30.4
Machining Centers	19,584	26,390	34.8
Lathes	41,882	43,235	3.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	19,869	24,943	25.5
Grinding Machines	43,633	48,354	10.8
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	21,978	17,476	-20.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	34,367	42,042	22.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	10,627	5,046	-52.5
Total	1,268,916	957,117	-24.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation