Taiwan's Machine-tool Industry Saw Exports Down 54.7% in H1

Taipei, Sept. 2, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$869.91 million worth of machine tools in the first half of 2009, down 54.7% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of this, exports for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$660.75 million, down 56.8%, and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$209.16 million, down 46.8%.

In terms of specific items, exports for machining centers amounted to US$228.07 million, down 63.6%; exports for EDMs (electric discharge machines) and laser cutting machines came to US$33.875 million, down 58.2%; that for lathes reached US$209.217 million, down 52.2%; that for drilling, boring and milling machines came to US$102.829 million, down 46.6%; that for grinding machines reached US$39.992 million, down 59.7%; and that for shaping, sawing and gearing machines reached US$46.77 million, down 49%.

In respect of export destinations, mainland China and Hong Kong together stood at the first place by absorbing US$321.87 million worth of machine tools from Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 43% year-on-year and accounting for 37% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$78.03 million, down 53.9% and commanding 9%. Germany stood at the third place with US$45.1 million, down 57.8% and accounting for 5.2%. Other major export destinations, in descending order, were Thailand, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Malaysia, Italy, Vietnam, Japan, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

The TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$158.08 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, down 83.5% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$125.3 million, down 86.2%, and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$32.77 million, down 30.4%.

Japan was the largest import source by exporting US$65.9 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 88.9% year-on-year and accounting for 41.7% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$26.77 million, up 16.6% and commanding 16.9%. Italy stood at the third place with US$14.5 million, up 89.2% and accounting for 9.2%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	81,016	33,875	-58.2
Machining Centers	626,590	228,071	-63.6
Lathes	437,839	209,217	-52.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	192,440	102,829	-46.6
Grinding Machines	99,206	39,992	-59.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	91,779	46,770	-49
Presses and Shearing Machines	315,839	168,938	-46.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	76,963	40,226	-47.7
Total	1,921,672	869,918	-54.7
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	749,631	38,810	-94.8
Machining Centers	26,390	14,333	-45.7
Lathes	43,235	16,508	-61.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	24,943	9,802	-60.7
Grinding Machines	48,354	32,193	-33.4
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	17,476	13,657	-21.9
Presses and Shearing Machines	42,042	26,926	-36
Other Metal-forming Machines	5,046	5,852	16
Total	957,117	158,081	-83.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation