Taiwan Exports US$1.267 Billion of Machine Tools in First 3 Qtrs.

Taipei, Dece. 18, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.267 billion of machine tools in the first three quarters of this year, down 56.5% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$963.12 million of the total, down 58.5% year-on-year, with metal-forming machine tools accounting for US$304.11 million, down 48.8%.

Exports of machining centers reached US$334.121 million, down 64.7%; lathes (US$297.987 million, down 55%); grinding machines (US$61.271 million, down 59.4%); drilling, boring and milling machines (US$144.971 million, down 49.9%); presses and shearing machines (US$238.564 million, down 50%); and other metal-forming machines (US$65.555 million, down 44.2%).

China and Hong Kong were the biggest buyer, absorbing US$471.15 million of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first nine months of this year, down 45.2% year-on-year and accounting for 37.2% of the total. The USA was second at US$101.22 million, down 60.8% and commanding 8%; Germany was third at US$60.09 million, down 64.5% and accounting for 4.7%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, included Thailand, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Holland, Italy, Turkey, Japan, France, United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

The TMAI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$241.78 million of machine tools in the first three quarters of this year, down 81.6% year-on-year. Metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$190.45 million, down 84.7% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$51.33 million, down 32%.

Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$112.03 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first nine months of this year, down 86% year-on-year and accounting for 46.3%. Germany was second at US$34.93 million, down 53.1% and commanding 14.4%. Italy was third at US$17.27 million, up 42.6% and commanding 7.1%.

TAMI's CEO C.C. Wang said the domestic machine-tool industry has been battling the global downturn since the fourth quarter of last year, adding that makers in Taiwan have to cope with volatile exchange rates between the NT-dollar and greenback, sharp devaluation of the Korean won, especially when S. Korea being Taiwan's main rival over the past few years, costly raw materials as steel and cast iron, and declining export orders.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-Sept. 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	122,136	54,368	-55.5
Machining Centers	947,832	334,121	-64.7
Lathes	662,600	297,987	-55
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	289,379	144,971	-49.9
Grinding Machines	151,045	61,271	-59.4
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	145,589	70,406	-51.6
Presses and Shearing Machines	476,867	238,564	-50
Other Metal-forming Machines	117,410	65,555	-44.2
Total	2,912,858	1,267,243	-56.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan (Jan.-Sept. 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1,000,531	64,616	-93.5
Machining Centers	40,022	19,456	-51.4
Lathes	64,831	27,437	-57.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	34,046	13,830	-59.4
Grinding Machines	75,509	44,390	-41.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	26,166	20,722	-20.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	67,757	43,515	-35.8
Other Metal-forming Machines	7,743	7,821	1
Total	1,316,605	241,787	-81.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation