Taiwan's Machinery Exports Surge 47.1% in First Five Months

Taipei, Aug. 5, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$6.363 billion worth of machinery products in the first five months of this year, representing a 47.1% year-on-year growth, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of individual export items, the category of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$1.029 billion in the first five months of this year, up 45% from a year earlier. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$429.93 million, up 59.4%. The third place went to special-purpose machines with US$415.45 million, up 74%.

Other export machinery categories, in descending order, were the category of pumps, compressors and fans, the category of valves and parts, the category of bearings, gears and ball screws, the category of machine-tool parts and components, the category of paper making and printing machinery, the category of textile machinery, the category of woodworking machinery, the category of sewing machines and leather and shoes making machines, the category of molds and dies, and the category of food and packaging machinery.

In terms of major export outlets, China ranked first by absorbing US$2.079 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first five months of this year, up 102% year-on-year and accounting for 327% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$984.65 million, up 20.9% and commanding 15.5%. Japan ranked third with US$337.81 million, down 0.8% and accounting for 5.3%.

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

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$10.095 billion worth of machinery from abroad in the first five months of this year, up 111% year-on-year.

The machines for IC and semiconductors was the largest import item, followed by the special-purpose machines, the category of pumps, fans and compressors, the category of engines and parts, the category of machinery components and parts, the category of equipment for treatment of materials, the category of valves and parts, the category of machine tools, the category of air conditioning and refrigerators, the category of glassware-making machines, the category of handling equipment, the category of textile machinery, and the category of plastics and rubber processing machinery.

TAMI said Taiwan still relied on Japan, the U.S., China and Germany for the supply of advanced machinery in the first five months of this year. Japan ranked first by supplying US$4.121 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan during the period, up 76.6% year-on-year and accounting for 40.8% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$2.23 billion, up 242% and commanding 22.1%. China ranked third with US$896.08 million, up 75% and accounting for 8.9%.

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

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan.-May 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2009	Jan.-Sept. 2010	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	710,000	1,029,158	45
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	269,698	429,937	59.4
3	Special-purpose Machinery	238,739	415,457	74
4	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	252,006	369,475	46.6
5	Valves & Parts	265,332	345,276	30.1
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	183,964	335,378	82.3
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	135,424	277,636	105
8	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	155,101	259,037	67
9	Textile Machinery	134,758	226,158	67.8
10	Woodworking Machinery	124,079	213,716	72.2
11	Sewing Machines, Leather & Shoes Making Machines	109,601	188,285	71.8
12	Molds & Dies	175,107	186,417	6.5
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	119,747	155,117	29.5
	Others	1,453,197	1,932,111	33
	Total	4,326,753	6,363,158	47.1
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in Jan.-May 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Products	Jan.-May 2009	Jan.-May 2010	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for IC, Semiconductor	1,238,920	5,016,129	304.9
2	Special-purpose Machinery	567,205	835,187	47.2
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	268,512	479,847	78.7
4	Engines & Parts	269,432	316,56	17.5
5	Components and Parts	188,205	286,812	52.4
6	Equipment for Treatment of Materials	329,267	246,439	-25.2
7	Valves & Parts	146,466	231,413	58
8	Machine Tools	130,558	215,188	64.8
9	Air Conditioning & Refrigerators	150,629	189,587	25.9
10	Glassware-making Machinery	123,879	172,890	39.6
11	Handling Equipment	138,350	135,608	-2
12	Textile Machinery	61,759	119,215	93
13	Plastics & Rubber Processing Machinery	63,535	109,637	72.6
	Others	1,096,743	1,740,633	58.7
	Total	4,773,460	10,095,152	111.5
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry