Taiwan Exports 10.3% More Machinery in First Seven Months

Taipei, Oct. 7, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$10.021 billion worth of machinery in the first seven months of this year, for a moderate 10.3% growth year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

In terms of major categories, Taiwan exported more machine tools than others, with its export value reaching US$2.24 billion in the first seven months of this year, up 17.3% from a year earlier. The tables below show other export values and growths.

The TAMI said Hong Kong and mainland China together bought the most Taiwan-made machinery-totaling US$2.878 billion in the seven months of this year, up 1.4% year-on-year and accounting for 28.7% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$15.5 billion, down 1.3% and commanding 15%. Japan stood as the third-largest outlet with US$577.55 million, up 3.5% and accounting for 5.8%. Vietnam stood at the fourth place with US$399.82 million, up 47.4%. The fifth place went to Thailand with US$313.73 million, up 1.9%. The sixth place went to Indonesia with US$266.7 million, up 37.9%. Malaysia ranked seventh with US$249.95 million, up 17.3%.

Other major outlets, in descending order, were India, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Brazil, Singapore, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, United Arab Emirate, Finland, the Philippines, Russia, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$11.544 billion of machinery in the first seven months of this year, up 5.3% year-on-year. The largest import machinery category was special-purpose machinery with import value totaling US$3.355 billion, up 7.2% year-on-year and accounting for 29.1% of the total imports. The table below states other import categories and growths.

Japan was the biggest supplier of machinery to Taiwan-selling US$4.862 billion of machinery in the first seven months of this year, up 5.9% year-on-year and accounting for 42.1% of the total imports. The U.S. was second with US$2.636 billion, down 9.4% and accounting for 22.8%. The third place went to Hong Kong and mainland China together with US$1.107 billion, up 30% and commanding 9.6%. The fourth place went to Germany with US$1.016 billion, up 27.1% and accounting for 8.8%.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were South Korea, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery (Jan.-July 2008) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-July 2007	Jan.-July 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	1,909,398	2,240,473	17.3
2	Special-purpose Machinery	681,586	800,281	17.4
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	574,705	648,854	12.9
4	Valves & Parts	544,573	564,528	3.7
5	Pumps, compressors, Fans	494,853	554,067	12
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	341,034	422,011	23.7
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	375,936	421,970	12.2
8	Woodworking Machinery	374,409	376,051	0.4
9	Molds & Dies	294,738	316,169	7.3
10	Textile Machinery	384,488	314,675	-18.2
11	Sewing Machines	220,426	216,579	-1.7
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	174,646	147,475	-15.6
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	42,911	50,274	17.2
	Others	2,675,228	2,948,547	10.2
	Total	9,088,931	10,021,954	10.3
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

　

Machinery Imports into Taiwan (Jan.-July 2008) by Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-July 2007	Jan.-July 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	3,129,838	3,355,742	7.2
2	Machine Tools	1,532,572	1,100,316	-28.2
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	580,729	618,553	6.5
4	Engines & Parts	561,403	479,443	-14.6
5	Valves & Parts	363,131	371,226	2.2
6	Textile Machinery	225,163	202,192	-10.2
7	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	200,000	179,759	-10.1
	Others	4,367,118	5,236,945	19.9
	Total	10,959,954	11,544,176	5.3
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry