Taiwan's Machine-tool Exports Down 55.1% in First 11 Months of 2009

Taipei, Feb. 6, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.568 billion of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2009, down 55.1% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF). Exports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$1.192 billion, down 57.1% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$375.84 million, down 47.1%.

Exports of machining centers declined by 63% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2009, lathes (down 55.7%); grinding machines (down 56.2%); drilling, boring and milling machines (down 47.4%); presses and shearing machines (down 49.4%); other metal-forming machines (down 37.7%).

Hong Kong and China together ranked first by absorbing US$581.18 million of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first 11 months of 2009, down 44.2% year-on-year and accounting for 37.1% of the total exports. The USA was second at US$116.66 million, down 62.9% and commanding 7.4%. Germany was third with US$71.09 million, down 65.6% and accounting for 4.5%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey.

The TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$305.58 million of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2009, down 79.3% year-on-year. The imports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$244.71 million, down 82.3% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$60.87 million, down 34.6%.

TMTF attributed the declining import to sagging demand for machine tools by domestic high-tech firms. The import value of non-conventional machine tools was down 91.8% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2009; machining centers (down 53.7%); lathes (down 52.3%); drilling, boring and milling machines (down 57.7%); and grinding machines (down 42.2%).

Japan was the largest supplier by selling US$146.63 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first 11 months of 2009, down 83.7% year-on-year and accounting for 48% of the total imports. Germany was second at US$43.13 million, down 50.8% and commanding 14.1%. Hong Kong and China ranked third with US$21.61 million, down 43% and commanding 7.1%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-Nov. 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2008	Jan.-Nov. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	145,357	69,332	-52.3
Machining Centers	1,131,456	418,150	-63
Lathes	802,891	355,549	-55.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	344,869	181,533	-47.4
Grinding Machines	180,060	78,940	-56.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	175,140	89,217	-49.1
Presses and Shearing Machines	569,552	288,044	-49.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	140,924	87,796	-37.7
Total	3,490,249	1,568,561	-55.1
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan (Jan.-Nov. 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2008	Jan.-Nov. 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1,089,942	89,759	-91.8
Machining Centers	50,871	23,552	-53.7
Lathes	77,229	36,864	-52.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	38,596	16,326	-57.7
Grinding Machines	88,499	51,120	-42.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	35,488	27,090	-23.7
Presses and Shearing Machines	79,255	52,527	-33.7
Other Metal-forming Machines	13,819	8,347	-39.6
Total	1,473,699	305,585	-79.3
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation