Taiwan's Machinery Exports Down 37.6% to US$8.062 B. in First 3 Qtrs.

Taipei, Dec. 17, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$8.062 billion worth of machinery products in the first three quarters of this year, down 37.6% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of the major export items, the category of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$1.267 billion, down an annualized 56.5%. The second place went to the category of plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$522.33 million, down 37.8%. Special-purpose machines ranked third with US$494.14 million, down 50.4%. The fourth place went to the category of valve and parts with US$485.76 million, down 34.2%. The fifth ranking was taken by the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$478.05 million, down 32.7%. The sixth place went to the category of bearings, gears and ball screws with US$363.6 million, down 34%. The category of molds and dies stood at the seventh place with US$300.42 million, down 24.8%.

Other leading export items, in descending order, were machine-tool parts and components with US$274.5 million, down 49.8%; textile machinery (excluding sewing machines) with US$266.2 million, down 31.1%; woodworking machinery with US$250.02 million, down 48.7%; sewing machines with US$182.97 million, down 33.8%; paper making and printing machines with US$126.49 million, down 36.7%; and leather and shoes making machines with US$34.97 million, down 48.3%.

In terms of major export destinations, China ranked first by absorbing US$2.134 billion worth of Taiwan-made machines in the first nine months of 2009, down 41.2% year-on-year and accounting for 26.5% of the total exports. The U.S. came second with US$1.387 billion, down 30.4% and commanding 17.2%. Japan ranked third with US$554.81 million, down 26.1% and accounting for 6.9%. Thailand took fourth place with US$309.93 million, down 23.5%. Vietnam ranked fifth with US$295.66 million, down 41.1%. The sixth place went to Germany with US$238.11 million, down 51.7%.

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

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$10.03 billion worth of machinery in the first nine months of this year, down 31.8% year-on-year.

Of the major imported items, special-purpose machines ranked first with import value reaching US$927.96 million, down 77.6% annually and accounting for 9.2% of the total imports. The second place went to the engines and parts with US$547.13 million, down 10.9% and accounting for 5.5%. The category of pumps, fans and compressors ranked third with US$499.61 million, down 38.7% and commanding 5%. The fourth place went to valves and parts with US$285.45 million, down 41.1% and commanding 2.8%. Machine tools ranked fifth with US$241.78 million, down 81.6% and commanding 2.4%, followed by textile machinery with US$120.72 million, down 52.8% and accounting for 1.2%; plastics and rubber processing machines with US$120.13 million, down 54.6% and commanding 1.2%.

TAMI said Japan was the island's largest import source by selling US$4.176 billion worth of machines to Taiwan in the first nine months of 2009, down 32.1% year-on-year and accounting for 41.6% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$1.882 billion, down 41.2% and commanding 18.8%. China ranked third with US$1.9088 billion, down 25.9% and accounting for 10.9%. Germany stood at the fourth place with US$834.02 million, down 37.8%.

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

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in First 3 Qtrs. of 2009 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,912,858	1,267,243	-56.5
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	839,599	522,337	-37.8
3	Special-purpose Machinery	996,980	494,141	-50.4
4	Valves & Parts	737,725	485,767	-34.2
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	709,960	478,054	-32.7
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	550,555	363,604	-34
7	Molds & Dies	399,306	300,426	-24.8
8	Machine-tool Parts & Components	546,994	274,508	-49.8
9	Textile Machinery	386,406	266,203	-31.1
10	Woodworking Machinery	487,534	250,027	-48.7
11	Sewing Machines	276,380	182,977	-33.8
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	199,826	126,493	-36.7
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	67,628	34,970	-48.3
	Others	3,818,555	3,015,982	-21
	Total	12,930,306	8,062,732	-37.6
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in First 3 Qtrs. of 2009 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	4,145,727	927,965	-77.6
2	Engines & Parts	614,223	547,139	-10.9
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	814,751	499,613	-38.7
4	Valves & Parts	484,280	285,453	-41.1
5	Machine Tools	1,316,605	241,787	-81.6
6	Textile Machinery	255,552	120,722	-52.8
7	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	264,636	120,131	-54.6
	Others	6,816,609	7,290,935	7
	Total	14,712,383	10,033,745	-31.8
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry