Taiwan Machine Tool Makers' Jan. Exports Surge 15.2%

Taipei, April 9, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$177.89 million of machine tools in January, up 15.2% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

The January exports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$137.18 million, up 16.7% and that of metal-forming machine tools came to US$40.71 million, for a 10.3% growth.

The export of machining centers grew 35.3% year-on-year in January; lathes, down 23.8%; and grinding machines, up 115%. (See table below)

Hong Kong and China together was the island's largest export outlet by absorbing US$76.5 million of machine tools in January, up 120% year-on-year and accounting for 43% of the total exports. The USA ranked second at US$10.06 million, down 44.7% and commanding 5.7%. Thailand stood at the third place with US$9.6 million, up 32.1% and accounting for 5.4%.

Other major export outlets in that monthly, in descending order, included India, Brazil, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Netherlands, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Australia and Germany.

The TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$43.82 million of machine tools in January, up 101% year-on-year. Of this, the import value for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$38.3 million, up 156% and those for metal-forming machine tools came to US$5.51 million, down 18.9%.

The TMTF said the major machine-tools imported in January were non-conventional machine tools; machining centers; lathes; drilling, boring and milling machines; grinding machines; presses and shearing machines; and other metal-forming machine tools.

Japan was the largest supplier by selling US$23.24 million of machine tools to Taiwan in January, up 147% year-on-year and accounting for 53%. The USA came in second at US$3.97 million, up 288% and commanding 9.1%. The third place went to South Korea with US$2.6 million, up 283% and accounting for 6%.

TMTF CEO C.C. Wang said domestic machine-tool manufacturers are fully booked for export orders, many being rushed, to be shipped in the first quarter, and are looking for second-quarter orders. Many domestic manufacturers are working overtime and recruiting workers to fill orders amid the fast recovery.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in January 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	January 2009	January 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	4,806	10,076	109.7
Machining Centers	38,616	52,249	35.3
Lathes	41,591	31,676	-23.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	16,808	19,386	15.3
Grinding Machines	5,826	12,540	115.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	9,898	11,260	13.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	29,179	30,050	3
Other Metal-forming Machines	7,728	10,662	38
Total	154,452	177,899	15.2
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools in January 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	January 2009	January 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	6,020	21,868	263.3
Machining Centers	2,197	2,311	5.2
Lathes	1,348	3,677	172.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	1,038	3,336	221.4
Grinding Machines	2,675	3,096	15.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	1,671	4,021	140.6
Presses and Shearing Machines	4,623	4,878	5.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	2,179	641	-70.6
Total	21,751	43,828	101.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation