Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery Grow 12.4% in First Half of 2008

Taipei, 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