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

2009/05/06 | By Ben Shen

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