Taiwan Tech Shines at JIMTOF amid Market Recovery Signs

The biannual Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF 2024) made its anticipated return to Tokyo Big Sight from November 5th to 10th, drawing hundreds of exhibitors from Taiwan and lasting six days. This year's exhibition spotlights advancements in semiconductors, energy efficiency, carbon reduction, smart manufacturing, and AI and robotics applications, setting a clear focus on sustainable and future-oriented technologies.

The Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI) emphasized JIMTOF’s global significance, ranking as the world’s third-largest machine tool trade show, trailing only EMO Hannover and the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). Known as the "trial balloon" of Asia’s machine tool industry, JIMTOF is a critical platform for Taiwanese and international companies to tap into the Japanese market and debut their latest products and technologies. In 2022, JIMTOF attracted 141,948 professional buyers from 63 countries, establishing its reputation as a high-profile industry gathering. This year’s event saw 1,262 exhibitors from 19 countries occupying a record 5,743 booths—a 16.2% increase in participation, highlighting a surge in exhibitor confidence and a positive industry outlook.

According to the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA), favorable economic indicators, including interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve and China’s reduction in reserve requirements, are fostering a more optimistic environment for investment. With the U.S. presidential election soon to conclude, policy clarity is expected to strengthen by mid-next year, potentially laying the groundwork for robust global demand for machine tools in 2025 and 2026, as projected by Oxford Economics. While the outlook remains positive worldwide, Germany continues to show signs of market weakness.