Taiwan's machinery exports rose 22.9% in first 3 quarters

Taipei, Dec. 3, 2004 (CENS)--Taiwan's machinery exports amounted to US$9.15 billion in the first three quarters of this year, up 22.9% from the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of major export items, machine tools ranked first with export value totaling US$1.63 billion, representing an annual increase of 36%. Plastic and rubber processing machinery ranked second with US$697 million, up 28%. The third place went to compressors, fans, and pumps with US$670 million, up 20%.

Special-purpose machinery ranked fourth with US$571 million, up 51%, followed by woodworking machinery with US$519 million, up 20%; valves with US$515 million, up 22%; molds and dies with US$430 million, up 6%; textile machinery with US$490 million, up 6%; sewing machinery with US$382 million, up 8%; bearing, gear, ball screw with US$319 million, up 21%; paper-making and printing machinery with US$144 million, down 1%; and leather and shoemaking machinery with US$80 million, down 12%.

In terms of export outlets for Taiwan-made machines, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$3.377 billion worth of machines from the island in the first three quarters of this year, up 19% from the same period of last year and commanding 36.9% of the total. The U.S. ranked second with US$1.627 billion, up 29% and accounting for 17.8% of the total. The third place went to Japan, which soaked up US$478 million, up 12% annually and commanding 5.2% of the total.

Thailand was the fourth largest export outlet for Taiwan-made machines by absorbing US$420 million, an annual increase of 35%. The fifth spot went to Vietnam with US$280 million, up 6%. Other major export outlets, in descending order, included Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, Turkey, Canada, South Korea, Britain, Singapore, India, Italy, Australia, Holland, the Philippines, Spain, France, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

TAMI's statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$12.708 billion worth of machinery in the first three quarters of this year, up 55% from the corresponding period of last year.

Imports of special-purpose machines took the lead with US$4.15 billion for the first three quarters, up 52% from the same period of last year and accounting for 32.7% of the total imports. TAMI said the imported special-purposed machines were mainly used by the high-tech industries of semiconductor and 3C (consumer electronics, communications and computers).

Machine tools appeared the second-largest import item, with import value shooting up 162% to US$1.384 billion for a 10.9% share of Taiwan's total machinery imports for the first nine months of the year. The third place was compressors, fans and pumps with US$720 million, up 38% and commanding 5.7% of the total. Plastic and rubber processing machines ranked fourth with US$480 million, up 46% and accounting for 3.8% of the total imports. Engines and components ranked fifth with US$470 million, up 29% and commanding 3.7% of the total.

Valves took the sixth place with US$359 million, up 45% and accounting for 2.8% of the total import value. Textile machines ranked seventh with US$248 million, up 4% and commanding 2% of the total. TAMI said the imported machines were mainly used in the industries of optoelectronics, communications, information technology products, and semiconductor.

TAMI noted Japan and the U.S. were the major sources of machinery imports in the first three quarters of this year. Japan ranked first with US$6.79 billion, up 52% from the same period of last year and commanding 53.5% of the total import, followed by the U.S. with US$2.63 billion, up 93% year-on-year and accounting for 20.8% of the total; and Germany with US$880 million, up 42% annually and taking 6.9% of the total imports.

Other major machinery import sources, in descending order, included mainland China, Germany, Switzerland, Britain, Italy, and France.