Taiwan Machinery Exports Soar 51.7% in 2010
2011/03/17 | By Ben ShenTaiwan exported US$17.214 billion worth of machinery in 2010, representing a whopping 51.7% increase from 2009, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).
In terms of machinery categories, machine tools ranked first with an export value of US$2.961 billion in 2010, up 69.9% from the previous year. Second place went to plastics and rubber processing machinery with shipments of US$1.17 billion, up 56.7%. Special-purpose machines ranked third with US$1.121 billion, up 52.1%. Fourth place was taken by pumps, compressors, and fans with US$965 million, up 45.6%; and in fifth place was bearings, ball screws, and gears with US$927.67 million, up 72.4%.
Other major export categories, in descending order, were valves and parts; paper making and printing machines; machine-tool parts and components; textile machinery (excluding sewing machines); woodworking machinery; sewing machines and leather and shoe making machines; molds and dies; and food and packaging machines.
In terms of export destination, China was the largest market, taking US$5.904 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in 2010, up 88.2% from 2009 and accounting for 34.3% of total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$2.468 billion, up 32.8% and commanding 14.3%. Third place went to Japan with US$901.39 million, up 23.1% and accounting for 5.2%. Thailand ranked fifth with US$600.36 million, up 32.5%, and Vietnam was in fifth place with imports of US$583.45 million, up 32.5%.
Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Indonesia, South Korea, India, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, Turkey, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Finland.
mports Skyrocket 78%
TAMI's tallies also show that Taiwan imported US$27.062 billion worth of machinery in 2010, up 78% from the year before, reflecting a strong recovery in domestic investment willingness.
Machinery for integrated circuits and semiconductor was the largest import category, with a value of US$13.182 billion in 2010, up 123.5% and accounting for 48.7% of total imports. Second place went to special-purpose machinery with imports of US$2.232 billion, up 77.3% and commanding an 8.2% share. In third place was pumps, compressors, and fans with US$1.202 billion, up 63.9% and accounting for 4.4%.
Other major import categories, in descending order, were engines and parts; equipment for the treatment of materials; machinery components and parts; machine tools, valves, and parts; glassware making machinery; air conditioning and refrigeration; textile machinery; handling equipment; and plastics and rubber processing machinery.
TAMI president C.C. Wang notes Taiwan still relied on Japan, the U.S., China, and Germany to take the vast majority of its machinery imports in 2010. Japan was the island's largest import source, supplying US$10.746 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan last year, up 75.1% from the year before and accounting for 39.7% of total import value. The U.S. ranked second with US$5.832 billion, up 90.4% and commanding 21.6%. Third place went to China and Hong Kong together with US$2.328 billion, up 48% and commanding 8.6%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were Germany, South Korea, Italy, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France.
Wang says that the biggest problem facing local machinery exporters right now is the sharp appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar against the U.S. greenback; the local currency rose by 4.62% in 2010. Other factors affecting export performance include the volatility of cast iron and other raw materials prices.
Despite the intensification of global competitiveness, the Taiwanese machinery industry is expected to grow 15% to 20% this year. Wang notes that over 100 machinery items are on the “early-harvest” list of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China, which will help domestic machinery manufacturers to further develop the Chinese market.
Wang cautions, however, that locally made machinery will face strong competition from South Korea in the international marketplace, especially in view of the free trade agreements (FTAs) that South Korea has concluded with U.S. and the European Union, which will come into force this July.
Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in 2010, by Product Category | ||||
Rank | Product Category | 2009 | 2011 | Change (%) |
1 | Machine Tools | 1,743,281 | 2,961,616 | 69.9 |
2 | Plastics & Rubber Machinery | 747,080 | 1,170,863 | 56.7 |
3 | Special-purpose Machinery | 737,521 | 1,121,685 | 52.1 |
4 | Pumps, Compressors, Fans | 662,673 | 965,007 | 45.6 |
5 | Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws | 538,187 | 927,670 | 72.4 |
6 | Valves & Parts | 669,573 | 925,306 | 38.2 |
7 | Paper Making, Printing Machinery | 452,948 | 790,939 | 74.6 |
8 | Machine-tool Parts & Components | 415,651 | 784,507 | 88.7 |
9 | Textile Machinery | 381,021 | 580,102 | 52.2 |
10 | Woodworking Machinery | 362,440 | 562,570 | 55.2 |
11 | Sewing Machines, Leather & Shoes Making Machines | 313,046 | 494,573 | 58 |
12 | Molds & Dies | 410,805 | 459,251 | 11.8 |
13 | Food & Packaging Machinery | 302,952 | 419,569 | 38.5 |
| Others | 3,613,867 | 5,050,951 | 39.8 |
| Total | 11,351,045 | 17,214,609 | 51.7 |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |
Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in 2010, by Product Category | ||||
Rank | Product Category | 2009 | 2010 | Change (%) |
1 | Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors | 5,898,514 | 13,182,214 | 123.5 |
2 | Special-purpose Machinery | 1,259,296 | 2,232,318 | 77.3 |
3 | Pumps, Fans, Compressors | 733,781 | 1,202,392 | 63.9 |
4 | Engines & Parts | 758,523 | 929,982 | 22.6 |
5 | Equipment for Treatment of Materials | 667,284 | 916,775 | 37.4 |
6 | Components and Parts | 504,482 | 784,498 | 55.5 |
7 | Machine Tools | 340,805 | 703,618 | 106.5 |
8 | Valves & Parts | 415,293 | 635,666 | 53.1 |
9 | Glassware-making Machinery | 393,165 | 613,604 | 56.1 |
10 | Air Conditioning & Refrigeration | 371,231 | 488,275 | 31.5 |
11 | Textile Machinery | 192,271 | 351,171 | 82.6 |
12 | Handling Equipment | 390,230 | 314,956 | -19.3 |
13 | Plastics & Rubber Processing Machinery | 175,503 | 285,425 | 62.6 |
| Others | 3,106,544 | 4,421,803 | 42.3 |
| Total | 15,206,922 | 27,062,697 | 78 |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |