Taiwan's Machinery Exports Plunge 38.6% in First Eight Months

Taipei, Nov. 16, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$7.122 billion worth of machinery products in the first eight months of this year, down 38.6% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

In terms of major export items, machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$1.129 billion in the first eight months of this year, down 56.4% year-on-year. The second place went to the category of plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$455.66 million, down 397%. Special-purpose machinery stood at the third place with US$437.52 million, representing an annual slump of 52.1%. The fourth ranking went to the category of valves and parts with US$426.73 million, down 35%. The fifth place was the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$420.2 million, down 34.1%. The category of bearings, gears and ball screws took the sixth place with US$317.96 million, down 35.3%. The seventh place went to the category of molds and dies with US$268.08 million, down 26.2%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were textile machinery (US$240.32 million, down 32.3%), machine-tool parts and components (US$235.8 million, down 52.2%), woodworking machinery (US$214.69 million, down 51.1%), sewing machinery (US$156.4 million, down 36.8%), paper making and printing machinery (US$108.16 million, down 35.9%), and leather and shoes making machinery (US$31.59 million, down 46.8%).

In terms of major export destinations, China ranked first by absorbing US$1.883 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first eight months of this year, down 42.9% year-on-year and accounting for 26.4% of the total exports. The U.S. took the second place with US$1.232 billion, down 30.2% and commanding 17.3%. Japan ranked third with US$502.92 million, down 25.4% and commanding 7.1%. The fourth place went to Thailand with US$271.18 million, down 24.8%. The fifth place was Vietnam with US$252.52 million, down 44.3%. Germany ranked sixth with US$211.98 million, down 51.6%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, South Korea, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, the Philippines, Australia, Brazil, France, Turkey, United Arab Emirate, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Finland, Spain and Russia.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$8.675 billion worth of machinery in the first eight months of this year, down 33.9% year-on-year. The largest import item went to the category of special-purpose machinery valued at US$812.97 million, down 78.3% year-on-year and accounting for 9.4% of the total imports. The imported special-purpose machinery was mainly employed by such high-tech sectors as semiconductor and 3C (consumer electronics, communications and computers).

The second place went to the category of engines and parts with US$467.9 million, down 15.6% and commanding 5.4%. The category of pumps, fans and compressors ranked third with US$429.76 million, down 40.1% and accounting for 5%. The fourth place was taken by the category of valves and parts with US$246.9 million, down 42.8% and accounting for 2.8%. Machine tools stood at the fifth place with US$212.05 million, down 82.2% and commanding 2.4%. Plastics and rubber processing machinery ranked sixth with US$107 million, down 48.8% and commanding 1.2%. Textile machinery ranked seventh with US$101.8 million, down 55.2% and accounting for 1.2%.

TAMI said Taiwan mainly relied on Japan, the U.S., China and Germany for machinery imports in the first eight months of this year. Japan was the largest import source by selling US$3.731 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan in the first eight months, down 31.8% year-on-year and commanding a whopping 43% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$1.625 billion, down 44.9% and accounting for 18.7%. China took the third place with US$888.35 million, down 31.3% and accounting for 10.2%. Germany ranked fourth with US$681.7 million, down 40.9% and accounting for 7.9%.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were South Korea, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in First Eight Months of 2009 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Aug. 2008	Jan.-Aug. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,591,762	1,129,893	-56.4
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	756,035	455,664	-39.7
3	Special-purpose Machinery	912,890	437,527	-52.1
4	Valves & Parts	656,150	426,736	-35
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	637,337	420,207	-34.1
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	491,373	317,962	-35.3
7	Molds & Dies	363,107	268,088	-26.2
8	Textile Machinery	354,903	240,236	-32.3
9	Machine-tool Parts & Components	492,944	235,808	-52.2
10	Woodworking Machinery	438,738	214,691	-51.1
11	Sewing Machines	247,307	156,400	-36.8
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	168,784	108,167	-35.9
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	59,382	31,593	-46.8
	Others	3,425,514	2,679,226	-21.8
	Total	11,596,226	7,122,198	-38.6
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in First Eight Months of 2009 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Aug. 2008	Jan.-Aug. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	3,740,456	812,976	-78.3
2	Engines & Parts	554,535	467,902	-15.6
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	717,105	429,761	-40.1
4	Valves & Parts	431,441	246,909	-42.8
5	Machine Tools	1,194,084	212,055	-82.2
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	208,868	107,004	-48.8
7	Textile Machinery	227,256	101,808	-55.2
	Others	6,044,278	6,296,766	4.2
	Total	13,118,023	8,675,181	-33.9
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry