Taiwan's exports of woodworking machines up 22% to US$338 M. in first half

Taipei, Sept. 15, 2004 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$338 million worth of woodworking machines in the first half of this year, representing a substantial growth of 22.2% from the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of the top-10 export outlets for Taiwan-made woodworking machinery, the U.S. ranked first by absorbing US$159 million worth of the product in the first half of this year, representing an annual growth of 23.6% and accounting for 47% of the island's total exports of the product. The second place went to Hong Kong and mainland China together with US$64 million, up 25.4% and accounting for 19.1%; Canada ranked third with US$20 million, up 9.7% and accounting for 6% of the total.

Vietnam stood at the fourth place by absorbing US$12.99 million in the first six months of the year, up 49.7% from the like period of last year. The fifth and sixth places went to Malaysia and Indonesia with US$8.9 million and US$8.03 million, up 4.9% and 12.1%, respectively.

Other major export outlets included Thailand, Germany, Britain, and Japan. The above-mentioned top-10 largest outlets for Taiwan-made woodworking machinery commanded 88% of the total exports of the product.

TAMI noted the most potential export outlets for domestically made woodworking machines include India, Turkey, and some East European nations.