Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery Grow 12.4% in First Half of 2008
2008/08/28 | By Ben ShenTaipei, Aug. 28, 2008 (CENS)-Taiwan's machinery exports amounted to US$8.557 billion in the first half of this year, up 12.4% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).
In terms of largest export items, the category of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$1.921 billion, up 20.8% year-on-year. The second place went to the category of special-purpose machinery with US$679.93 million, up 20.2%. The category of plastics and rubber processing machinery stood at the third place with US$541.09 million, up 12.6%. The fourth place went to the category of valves and parts with US$479.22 million, up 5.4%. The category of pumps, compressors and fans stood at the fifth place with US$472.661 million, up 12.7%. The sixth place went to the category of machine-tool parts and components with US$361.546 million, up 16%. The category of bearing, gears and ball screws stood at the seventh place with US$342.808 million, up 19.8%.
Other major export items, in descending order, were the category of woodworking machinery (US$324.755 million, up 4%), the category of textile machinery (US$273.667 million, down 16.4%), the category of molds and dies (US$269.722 million, up 9.7%), the category of sewing machines (US$188,952 million, up 1.2%), the category of paper making and printing machinery (US$128.461 million, down 10.2%), and the category of leather and shoes making machinery (US$44.234 million, up 28%).
In terms of largest export outlets of domestically made machinery, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$2.47 billion worth of the products from Taiwan in the first half of this year, up 4.5% year-on-year and accounting for 28.9% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$1.265 billion, down 0.9% and commanding 14.8%. Japan stood at the third place with US$497.32 million, up 4.9% and accounting for 5.8%. The fourth place went to Vietnam with US$341.16 million, up 53.8%. The fifth place went to Germany with US$320.97 million, up 30.7%. Thailand was the sixth-largest export outlet with US$266.45 million, up 0.3%.
Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Finland, United Arab Emirate, the Philippines, Russia, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
The TAMI's statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$10.098 billion worth of machinery in the first half of this year, up 10.5% year-on-year.
Of this, the category of special-purpose machinery ranked first with import value reaching US$2.966 billion, up 16.4% and accounting for 29.6% of the total imports. The second place went to the category of machine tools with US$957.11 million, down 24.6% and accounting for 9.6%. The category of pumps, gears and ball screws stood at the third place with US$532.43 million, up 8.5% band commanding 5.3%. The fourth place went to the category of engines and parts with US$426.51 million, down 8.2% and accounting for 4.3%. The category of valves and parts stood at the fifth place with US$316.46 million, up 1.9% and commanding 3.2%. The category of textile machinery stood at the sixth place with US$171.62 million, down 7.6% and accounting for 1.7%. The seventh place went to the category of plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$147.2 million, down 10% and commanding 1.5%.
In terms of largest import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$4.214 billion worth of the products to Taiwan in the first half of this year, up 9.8% and accounting for 42.1% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$2.318 billion, down 0.5% and commanding 23.2%. The third place went to Hong Kong and mainland China together with US$954.48 million, up 32.2% and accounting for 9.5%. Germany stood at the fourth place with US$871.62 million, up 36%.
Other major import sources, in descending order, were South Korea, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France.
TAMI vice president C.C. Wang predicted Taiwan would be able to grab 8% up to 10% year-on-year growth for exports of machinery in 2008. He also estimated the overall production value of Taiwan-made machinery would amount to NT$960 billion in 2008, up 8% up to 10% annually.
Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan.-June 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000 | ||||
Rank | Product Category | Jan.-June 2007 | Jan.-June 2008 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | Machine Tools | 1,591,130 | 1,921,672 | 20.8 |
2 | Special-purpose Machinery | 565,567 | 679,939 | 20.2 |
3 | Plastics & Rubber Machinery | 480,674 | 541,092 | 12.6 |
4 | Valves & Parts | 454,742 | 479,221 | 5.4 |
5 | Pumps, compressors, Fans | 419,250 | 472,661 | 12.7 |
6 | Machine-tool Parts & Components | 311,655 | 361,546 | 16 |
7 | Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws | 286,210 | 342,808 | 19.8 |
8 | Woodworking Machinery | 312,335 | 324,755 | 4 |
9 | Textile Machinery | 327,400 | 273,667 | -16.4 |
10 | Molds & Dies | 245,810 | 269,722 | 9.7 |
11 | Sewing Machines | 186,791 | 188,952 | 1.2 |
12 | Paper Making, Printing Machinery | 143,129 | 128,461 | -10.2 |
13 | Leather & Shoes Making Machines | 34,561 | 44,234 | 28 |
Others | 2,253,249 | 2,528,827 | 12.2 | |
Total | 7,612,503 | 8,557,557 | 12.4 | |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |
Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in Jan.-June 2008 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000 | ||||
Rank | Product Category | Jan.-June 2007 | Jan.-June 2008 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | Special-purpose Machinery | 2,549,736 | 2,966,919 | 16.4 |
2 | Machine Tools | 1,268,916 | 957,117 | -24.6 |
3 | Pumps, Compressors, Fans | 490,603 | 532,438 | 8.5 |
4 | Engines & Parts | 464,707 | 426,517 | -8.2 |
5 | Valves & Parts | 310,444 | 316,467 | 1.9 |
6 | Textile Machinery | 185,643 | 171,623 | -7.6 |
7 | Plastics & Rubber Machinery | 163,492 | 147,201 | -10 |
Others | 3,622,640 | 4,491,585 | 24 | |
Total | 9,056,181 | 10,009,867 | 10.5 | |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |