Taiwan's Machine Tool Exports Grow 70% YoY in First 11 Months of 2010

Taipei, Feb. 9, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.665 billion worth of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2010, representing a 70% year-on-year growth, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$2.096 billion, up a whopping 75.7% from a year earlier, and that of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$569.85 million, up 51.6%.

A further breakdown showed that exports for machining centers grew 100.8% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2010, and those of lathes, grinding machines, and milling and boring machines shot up 40.3%, 101.2% and 79.5%, respectively.

Hong Kong and mainland China together was the largest export destination, absorbing US$1.24 billion worth of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first 11 months of 2010, up 113.4% year-on-year and accounting for 46.5% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$142.16 million, up 21.9% and commanding 5.3%. India came third with US$117.06 million, up 118.9% and accounting for 4.4%.

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

The TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$652.54 million worth of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2010, up 113.5% year-on-year. Imports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$531.58 million, up 117.2% and that of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$102.09 million, shooting up 98.7%.

Japan was the island's largest import source, selling US$388.82 million wroth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first 11 months of 2010, up 165.2% from a year earlier and accounting for 59.6% of the total imports. Germany came second with US$58.7 million, up 36.1% and commanding 9%. The third place went to Switzerland with US$41.5 million, up 133.5% and accounting for 6.4%.

Exportsof Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-Nov. 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2009	Jan.-Nov. 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	69,332	127,731	84.2
Machining Centers	418,147	839,692	100.8
Lathes	355,549	498,680	40.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	181,533	325,907	79.5
Grinding Machines	78,940	158,859	101.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	89,217	145,270	62.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	288,044	435,508	51.2
Other Metal-forming Machines	87,796	134,348	53
Total	1,568,558	2,665,995	70
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Importsof Machine Tools by Taiwanin Jan.-Nov. 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2009	Jan.-Nov. 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	89,759	238,238	165.4
Machining Centers	23,552	47,444	101.4
Lathes	36,864	85,122	130.9
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	16,326	28,248	73
Grinding Machines	51,120	71,805	40.5
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	27,090	60,726	124.2
Presses and Shearing Machines	52,527	106,818	103.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	8,347	14,148	69.5
Total	305,585	652,549	113.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation