Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools Down 3.9% in January

Taipei, March 31, 2006 (CENS)--Exports of Taiwan-made machine tools amounted to US$212.8 million in January, down 3.9% from the same period of last year, according to statistics compiled by the non-profit Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the total exports, metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$163.39 million, up 2.1% year-on-year, while metal-forming machine tools commanded US$49.41 million, down 19.6%.

In terms of specific types of metal-cutting machine tools, exports for machining centers grew 2.1% annually, lathes were up 13.9%, electric discharge machines were down 3.9%, milling machines were up 6.2%, and other types grew at a slower pace. In the category of metal-forming machine tools, exports for presses and shearing machines slid 22.4% annually, while others types were down 8.6%.

Hong Kong and mainland China together formed the largest export outlet for domestically made machine tools by absorbing US$69.48 million worth of the products from Taiwan in January, down 26.1% year-on-year and accounting for 32.7% of the total. The U.S. took second place with US$24.75 million, up 12.6% and commanding 11.6%. The third place went to Turkey with US$11.87 million, up 0.1% and accounting for 5.6%.

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

The TMTF tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$108.02 million worth of machine tools from abroad in January, down 8.8% from the same period of last year. Of the total figures, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$97.1 million, down 11.8% and, imports for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$10.92 million, up 32.2%.

The TMTF attributed the import decline to the sluggish demand by the domestic hi-tech industry. Major imported items included non-conventional machines, machining centers, lathes, boring and milling machines, and grinding machines.

Wang Cheng-ching, CEO of the TMTF, noted that demand for imported machine tools by conventional manufacturing sectors such as the automotive and metal product industries has continued to grow, while the demand by such hi-tech fields as the semiconductor, information-technology, electronics, communications, and optoelectronics industries has been slowing over the past year.

Japan was Taiwan' s largest import source for machine tools by selling US$43.78 million worth of the products to Taiwan in January, down 27% and accounting for 40.5% of the total. The U.S. took second place with US$32.78 million, down 0.8% and commanding 30.4%. Germany ranked third with US$7.63 million, down 3.2% and accounting for 7.1%.

Wang noted many domestic manufacturers in the line believed the world demand for domestically made machine tools would continue to grow in the first half of this year, with the mainland, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, the U.S., and Eastern Europe as the major export destinations.

In view of the slowdown in exports and orders since the beginning of this year, domestic machine-tool manufacturers are adjusting the pace of their shipments. Wang said domestic manufacturers in the line should vie to expand export markets and boost market share worldwide by introducing innovative products and raising the added value of their products.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in January 2006 by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Products	Jan. 2005	Jan. 2006	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	12, 164	11, 686	-3.9
Machining Centers	65, 620	64, 269	-2.1
Lathes	38, 030	43, 222	13.9
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	21, 359	22, 693	6.2
Grinding Machines	11, 608	11, 351	-2.2
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	11, 179	10, 072	-9.9
Presses & Shearing Machines	48, 941	37, 988	-22.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	12, 500	11, 427	-8.6
Total	221, 401	212, 808	-3.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in January 2006 by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Products	Jan. 2005	Jan. 2006	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	81, 394	80, 227	-1.4
Machining Centers	3, 604	2, 528	-29.9
Lathes	4, 141	4, 573	10.4
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	2, 339	4, 997	113.6
Grinding Machines	14, 911	3, 835	-74.3
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	3, 759	942	-74.9
Presses & Shearing Machines	7, 233	7, 365	1.8
Other Metal-forming Machines	1, 030	3, 559	245.5
Total	118, 411	108, 026	8.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation