Taiwan Exports US$281.12 M. Machine Tools in First Two Months

Taipei, May 6, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$281.12 million of machine tools in the first two months of 2009, down 47.8% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

The exports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$212.78 million, down 50.5% and that for metal-forming machine tools totaled US$68.33 million, down 37.2%. The table below shows the exports of other machine tools.

Mainland China and Hong Kong together absorbed the most Taiwan-made machine tool exports: $71.48 million in the first two months of 2009, down 51.2% year-on-year and accounting for 25.4% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$31.58 million, down 36.2% and commanding 11.2%. Germany ranked third with US$19.39 million, down 39.5% and accounting for 6.9%.

The TMTF's tallies also showed that Taiwan imported US$53.16 million of machine tools in the first two months, down 83.4% year-on-year. Of this, the imports of metal-cutting machine tools totaled US$40.99 million, down 86.6% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$12.17 million, down 16.5%.

In the first two months of 2009, Taiwan's import of non-conventional machine tools slid 94.2% year-on-year; that for machining centers grew 8%; lathes, down 66.9%; drilling, boring and milling machines, down 54.2%; and grinding machines, down 28.6%.

Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$20.35 million of machine tools in the first two months, down 90.4% and accounting for 38.3% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$10.08 million, down 20.7% and commanding 19%. The U.S. ranked third place with US$5.97 million, down 92% and accounting 11.2%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-Feb. 2009 by Product Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Jan.-Feb. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	18,701	8,011	-57.2
Machining Centers	175,195	71,874	-59
Lathes	125,494	73,934	-41.1
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	58,126	29,985	-48.4
Grinding Machines	26,903	11,240	-58.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	25,173	17,743	-29.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	88,684	54,584	-38.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	20,059	13,749	-31.5
Total	538,335	281,120	-47.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan in Jan.-Feb. 2009 by Product Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Jan.-Feb. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	261,947	15,112	-94.2
Machining Centers	5,632	6,083	8
Lathes	14,532	4,812	-66.9
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	6,365	2,916	-54.2
Grinding Machines	12,654	9,032	-28.6
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	4,128	3,036	-26.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	13,634	9,489	-30.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	942	2,685	285
Total	319,834	53,165	-83.4
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation