TAMI: Exports of Machinery Down 38.5% in First Seven Months

Taipei, Oct. 16, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$6.161 billion of machinery in the first seven months of this year, down 38.5% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The category of machine tools was the largest, with export value reaching US$987.94 million in the first seven months, down 55.7% year-on-year. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$390.86 million, down 39.7%. Special-purpose machinery was third with US$384.58 million, down 51.9%.

Other major machinery exports, in descending order, included textile machinery (US$205.94 million, down 32.6%), machine-tool parts and components (US$197.7 million, down 53.1%), woodworking machinery (US$181.94 million, down 51.5%) etc. (See Table I)

China and Hong Kong together were the biggest buyers, absorbing US$1.627 billion of machinery from Taiwan in the first seven months, down 43.5% year-on-year and accounting for 26.4% of the total exports. The U.S. was second with US$1.085 billion, down 28% and commanding 17.6%. Japan was third with US$435.94 million, down 24.5% and accounting for 7.1%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, United Kingdom, South Korea, the Philippines etc.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$7.383 billion of machinery in the first seven months of this year, down 36% from a year earlier.

Special-purpose machinery was the biggest category imported, totaling US$728.28 million, down 78.3% year-on-year and accounting for 9.9% of the total imports. The second place was engines and parts with US$395.5 million, down 16.4% and commanding 5.4%. Pumps, compressors and fans was third with US$371.83 million, down 39.8% and accounting for 5%. (See Table II)

TAMI vice president C.C. Wang noted Taiwan still heavily relies on imported machinery from Japan, the U.S., China and Germany.

Japan exported US$3.271 billion of machinery to Taiwan in the first seven months of this year, down 32.7% and accounting for a whopping 44.3% of the total imports. The U.S. was second with US$1.362 billion, down 48.3% and commanding 18.4%. Hong Kong and China were third with US$757.88 million, down 31.5% and accounting for 10.3%. Germany was fourth with US$583.73 million, down 42.6% and commanding 7.9%. Other major suppliers, in descending order, were South Korea, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and France.

Table I

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery (Jan.-July 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-July 2008	Jan.-July 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,228,175	987,945	-55.7
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	648,254	390,868	-39.7
3	Special-purpose Machinery	798,949	384,583	-51.9
4	Valves & Parts	564,146	371,027	-34.2
5	Pumps, compressors, Fans	554,643	361,684	-34.8
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	421,918	270,410	-35.9
7	Molds & Dies	315,799	234,735	-25.7
8	Textile Machinery	305,714	205,945	-32.6
9	Machine-tool Parts & Components	421,803	197,702	-53.1
10	Woodworking Machinery	375,005	181,948	-51.5
11	Sewing Machines	216,247	133,266	-38.4
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	145,440	94,308	-35.2
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	50,115	26,043	-48
	Others	2,974,381	2,320,610	-22
	Total	10,020,589	6,161,074	-38.5
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Table II

Machinery Imports into Taiwan (Jan.-July 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-July 2008	Jan.-July 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	3,352,179	728,286	-78.3
2	Engines & Parts	473,352	395,509	-16.4
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	618,158	371,837	-39.8
4	Valves & Parts	371,124	210,502	-43.3
5	Machine Tools	1,081,702	185,142	-82.9
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	178,665	97,307	-45.5
7	Textile Machinery	189,510	86,126	-54.6
	Others	5,278,640	5,308,421	0.6
	Total	11,543,330	7,383,130	-36
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry