Taipei, May 4, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$3.106 billion of machinery in the first two months of 2012, up 4.7% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Machine tools led in export value of US$652 million in the first two months, up 24.5% year-on-year, followed by bearings, gears and ball screws with US$198 million, up 10.4%, then plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$195 million, down 11.4%. (See table below)

China and Hong Kong together led as the largest export outlet by absorbing US$830.86 million of Taiwan-made machinery in the first two months, down 17.7% year-on-year and accounting for 26.7% of the total exports, followed by the U.S. with US$493.72 million, up 18.2% and 15.9%, then Japan with US$198.48 million, up 15.7% and accounting for 6.4%.

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

The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$3.159 billion of machinery in the first two months, down 30.6% year-on-year.

Machinery for ICs and semiconductors led in import value of US$1.325 billion, down 40.7% year-on-year and accounting for 42% of the total imports, followed by engines and parts with US$226.34 million, up 33.1% and commanding 7.2%, then pumps, fans and compressors ranked third with US$181.43 million, down 4.7% and accounting for 5.7%. (See table below)

Japan was the largest import supplier by selling US$1.186 billion of machinery to Taiwan in the first two months, down 30.1% year-on-year and accounting for 37.5% of the total imports, followed by the U.S. with US$525.04 million, down 47.7% and commanding 16.6%, then China and Hong Kong with US$347.3 million, up 1.7% and commanding 11%.

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

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan.-Feb. 2012 by Product Category Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Feb. 2011	Jan.-Feb. 2012	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	524,048	652,540	24.5
2	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	179,752	198,431	10.4
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	221,094	195,842	-11.4
4	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	166,804	181,906	9.1
5	Valves & Parts	156,972	177,870	13.3
6	Special-purpose Machinery	180,997	166,757	-7.9
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	141,975	127,466	-10.2
8	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	130,618	125,587	-3.9
9	Textile Machinery	112,230	93,012	-17.1
10	Molds & Dies	86,130	86,149	0
11	Woodworking Machinery	89,072	80,505	-9.6
12	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	79,649	76,111	-4.4
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	63,519	70,061	10.3
	Others	833,171	873,970	4.9
	Total	2,966,031	3,106,207	4.7
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan in Jan.-Feb. 2012 by Product Category Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Feb. 2011	Jan.-Feb. 2012	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	2,237,449	1,325,693	-40.7
2	Engines & Parts	169,994	226,346	33.1
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	190,295	181,437	-4.7
4	Special-purpose Machinery	240,628	148,427	-38.3
5	Components and Parts	140,720	140,394	-0.2
6	Equipment for Materials Treatment	152,809	102,908	-32.7
7	Valves & Parts	111.906	102,444	-8.5
8	Machine Tools	135,151	89,691	-33.6
9	Textile Machinery	63,062	83,920	33.1
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	82,400	72,163	-12.4
11	Glassware-making Machinery	112,629	58,677	-47.9
12	Handling Equipment	60,791	44,572	-26.7
13	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	41,262	34,746	-15.8
	Others	815,056	547,927	-32.8
	Total	4,554,152	3,159,345	-30.6
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry