Taiwan's Exports of Machine Tools Grew 7.6% in First Five Months

Taipei, Aug. 1, 2006 (CENS)--Exports of Taiwan-made machine tools amounted to US$1.138 billion in the first five months of this year, up 7.6% from the corresponding period of last year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Metal-cutting machine tools saw export value hit US$876.44 million in the first five months of this year, up 10.6% year-on-year (Y/Y). Exports for the category of metal-forming machine tools came to US$262.32 million, down 1.2%.

In the category of metal-cutting machine tools, machining centers saw an Y/Y growth of 16.4%; lathes, up 15.2%; electric discharge machines, down 5%; milling machines, up 7.2%; with the remainder growing at a smaller pace.

In the category of metal-forming machine tools, the category of presses and shearing machines saw export value edge down 0.1% Y/Y, and the category of other metal-forming machines, down 4.9%.

In terms of the major export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$423.76 million worth of the products from Taiwan in the first five months of this year, almost the same as the like period of last year and commanding 37.2% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$121.68 million, up 17.2% and accounting for 10.7%. The third place went to Turkey with US$59.67 million, down 0.6% and commanding 5.2%. Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, the Netherlands, South Korea, Malaysia, Italy, India, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Singapore, Vietnam, and Brazil.

TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$713.62 million worth of machine tools in the first five months of this year, representing an annual growth of 9.9%. The import value for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$666.11 million, up 10.6%, and that of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$47.51 million, up 0.5%.

TMTF CEO Wang Cheng-ching attributed the machine tool import growth to the increased demand for imported machine tools by such high-tech industries as semiconductor, information technology, electronics, communications, and optoelectronics.

In terms of the major import sources, Japan stood at the first place by selling US$337.11 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first five months of this year, down 10.2% Y/Y and accounting for 47.2% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$234.59 million, up 56.9% and commanding 32.9%. Germany ranked third with US$41.18 million, up 19.5% and accounting for 5.8%.

Taiwan Exports of Machine Tools by Products in Jan.-May 2006 Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2005	Jan.-May 2006	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	60,309	57,281	-5
Machining Centers	307,503	357,977	16.4
Lathes	199,708	230,117	15.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	104,304	111,833	7.2
Grinding Machines	61,836	61,363	-0.8
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	58,717	57,873	-1.4
Presses & Shearing Machines	204,226	203,942	-0.1
Other Metal-forming Machines	61,400	58,382	-4.9
Total	1,058,003	1,138,768	7.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

　

Taiwan Imports of Machine Tools by Products in Jan.-May 2006 Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2005	Jan.-May 2006	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	446,196	560,749	25.7
Machining Centers	17,851	12,986	-27.3
Lathes	35,917	27,585	-23.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	21,028	18,112	-13.9
Grinding Machines	60,955	36,490	-40.1
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	20,358	10,190	-49.9
Presses & Shearing Machines	37,262	32,046	-14
Other Metal-forming Machines	10,027	15,470	54.3
Total	649,594	713,628	9.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

In the category of metal-cutting machine tools, machining centers saw an Y/Y growth of 16.4%; lathes, up 15.2%; electric discharge machines, down 5%; milling machines, up 7.2%; with the remainder growing at a smaller pace.

In the category of metal-forming machine tools, the category of presses and shearing machines saw export value edge down 0.1% Y/Y, and the category of other metal-forming machines, down 4.9%.

In terms of the major export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$423.76 million worth of the products from Taiwan in the first five months of this year, almost the same as the like period of last year and commanding 37.2% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$121.68 million, up 17.2% and accounting for 10.7%. The third place went to Turkey with US$59.67 million, down 0.6% and commanding 5.2%. Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, the Netherlands, South Korea, Malaysia, Italy, India, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Singapore, Vietnam, and Brazil.

TMTF's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$713.62 million worth of machine tools in the first five months of this year, representing an annual growth of 9.9%. The import value for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$666.11 million, up 10.6%, and that of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$47.51 million, up 0.5%.

TMTF CEO Wang Cheng-ching attributed the machine tool import growth to the increased demand for imported machine tools by such high-tech industries as semiconductor, information technology, electronics, communications, and optoelectronics.

In terms of the major import sources, Japan stood at the first place by selling US$337.11 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first five months of this year, down 10.2% Y/Y and accounting for 47.2% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$234.59 million, up 56.9% and commanding 32.9%. Germany ranked third with US$41.18 million, up 19.5% and accounting for 5.8%.