Taiwan' s Machine Tool Exports Surged 18.1% in 2005

Taipei, March 6, 2006 (CENS)--Taiwan' s exports of machine tools amounted to US$2.658 billion in 2005, representing an 18.1% year-on-year increase, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the total, exports for metal-cutting machine tools reached US$1.984 billion, up 18.5% annually, and those of metal-forming machine tools came to US$674.37 million, up 17.2%.

In the metal-cutting machine tool category, machining centers posted an annual export growth of 25.8%, lathes 25.5%, electric discharge machines 10.8%, and sawing machines 28.1%, with other items growing at a slow pace.

In terms of export outlets for domestically made machine tools, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$1.091 billion worth of the products last year, up 6.5% annually and accounting for 41% of the total machine-tool exports. The U.S. was the second biggest export market with shipments of US$260.27 million, up 32.8% and commanding 9.8%. Third place went to Turkey with US$143.73 million, up 11.7% and accounting for 5.4%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, South Korea, Holland, Malaysia, the U.K., Germany, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, and Canada.

TMTF' s tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$1.511 billion worth of machine tools last year, down 23.6% year-on-year. Imports for metal-cutting machines tools amounted to US$1.384 billion of the total machine-tool imports, down 26% annually, and imports of metal-forming machine tools came to US$126.98 million, up 17.4%.

Wang Cheng-ching, CEO of TMTF, attributed the import decline to the sliding demand for imported machine tools by domestic high-tech firms. Major import items were non-conventional machine tools (down 31.5%), machining centers (down 27.8%), lathes (down 5.3%), boring and milling machines (up 0.2%), grinding machines (up 42.7%), presses and shearing machines (up 5.3%), and other metal-forming machines (up 72.2%).

Japan was Taiwan' s largest import source, exporting US$846.96 million worth of the products to Taiwan last year, down 18.9% year-on-year and accounting for 56% of the total imports. The U.S. took second place with US$389.42 million, down 42.8% and commanding 25.8%. Germany ranked third with US$83.92 million, down 0.4%and accounting for 5.6%.

The domestic machine-tool industry has seen a slowdown in production and orders since the fourth quarter of last year, which has forced domestic manufacturers in the sector to shake up their operations. In view of the change in the market situation, TMTF' s Wang called for domestic manufacturers to introduce innovative products and raise the added value of their products in order to expand their global market share.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Products	2004	2005	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	124, 346	137, 839	10.8
Machining Centers	614, 629	773, 251	25.8
Lathes	399, 374	501, 208	25.5
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	288, 900	276, 934	-4.1
Grinding Machines	137, 495	153, 955	12
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	110, 302	141, 333	28.1
Presses, Shearing Machines	461, 718	528, 407	14.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	113, 744	145, 970	28.3
Total	2, 250, 526	2, 658, 897	18.1
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Products	2004	2005	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	1, 590, 368	1, 089, 757	-31.5
Machining Centers	52, 187	37, 669	-27.8
Lathes	71, 547	67, 743	-5.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	41, 701	41, 796	0.2
Grinding Machines	76, 825	109, 646	42.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	37, 439	37, 526	0.2
Presses, Shearing Machines	88, 593	93, 331	5.3
Other Metal-Forming Machines	19, 547	33, 658	72.2
Total	1, 978, 207	1, 511, 126	-23.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation