Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools Reach US$2.912 B. in First 9 Months of 2008

Taipei, Dec. 1, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.912 billion worth of machine tools in the first three quarters of this year, representing a 15.6% year-on-year growth, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the total, exports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$2.318 billion, up 17.1%, and those of metal-forming machine tools came to US$594.27 million, up 9.9%.

The TMTF said the first-three-quarter exports of machining centers grew 15.3% year-on-year, lathes advanced 32.9%; grinding machines, up 1.9%; milling, drilling and boring machines, up 10.3%; shaping, sawing and gearing machines, up 5.8%; presses and Shearing Machines, up 7.2%; other metal-forming machines, up 22.4%.

Mainland China and Hong Kong together remained Taiwan's largest export outlet by absorbing US$859.42 million worth of machine tools in the first three quarters of this year, down 8.7% year-on-year and accounting for 29.5% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$258.11 million, up 5.4% and commanding 8.9%. The third place went to Germany with US$169.12 million, up 55.3% and accounting for 5.8%.

Other major export outlets, in descending orders, were Turkey, Italy, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Untied Kingdom, Japan and Indonesia.

The TMTF statistics also showed that Taiwan imported US$1.316 billion worth of machine tools in the first three quarters of this year, down 35.9% year-on-year. Imports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$1.241 billion, down 37.3% and those of metal-forming machine tools came to US$75.5 million, up 1.5%.

C.C. Wang, chief executive of the TMTF, noted major machine-tool items imported by Taiwan in the first three quarters were non-conventional machine tools, machining centers, lathes, boring/drilling/milling machines, and grinding machines.

In terms of major import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$799.39 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first three quarters, down 8.1% from a year earlier and accounting for 60.7% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$273.47 million, down 68.1% and commanding 20.8%. The third place went to Germany with UYS$74.43 million, up 32.2% and accounting for 5.7%.

Wang said the growth strength of the domestic machine-tool industry has gradually declined since the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year and domestic manufacturers in this line have felt reduction in orders received in this period of time. He called for domestic manufacturers to develop innovative products and elevate the added value of their products to weather this wave of economic recession.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-Sept. 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Sept. 2007	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	110,095	122,136	10.9
Machining Centers	822,212	947,832	15.3
Lathes	498,686	662,600	32.9
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	262,458	289,379	10.3
Grinding Machines	148,211	151,045	1.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	137,665	145,589	5.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	444,641	476,867	7.2
Other Metal-forming Machines	95,932	117,410	22.4
Total	2,519,900	2,912,858	15.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in Jan.-Sept. 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Sept. 2007	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1,745,024	1,000,531	-42.7
Machining Centers	38,975	40,022	2.7
Lathes	71,692	64,831	-9.6
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	33,538	34,046	1.5
Grinding Machines	61,430	75,509	22.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	28,270	26,166	-7.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	56,902	67,757	19.1
Other Metal-forming Machines	17,468	7,743	-55.7
Total	2,053,299	1,316,605	-35.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation