Taiwan's exports of textile machines up 8.4% to US$532 M. in first half

Taipei, Sept. 16, 2004 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$532 million worth of textile machinery in the first half of this year, up 8.4% from the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics conducted by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

TAMI vice president Wang Cheng-ching noted Taiwan is one of the world's major suppliers of textile machinery with annual export value exceeding US$1 billion.

TAMI divided exported textile machinery into two categories--sewing machines and the textile machines other than sewing machines. TAMI's statistics showed Taiwan exported US$252 million worth of sewing machines in the first half of this year, up 9.3% from the same period of last year and accounting for 47.4% of total exports of the product. Exports of the textile machines other than sewing machines amounted to US$279 million in the first half, up 7.5% from the like period of last year and accounting for 52.6% of the total.

The same tallies indicated that exports of filament-making machines amounted to US$5.89 million in the first half of this year, up 108% from the same period of last year. The second place went to looms with US$12.93 million in the first half of this year, followed by spinning machines with US$32.47 million, auxiliary textile machines with US$69.75 million, warping machines with US$11.35 million, knitting machines with US$68.74 million, and dyeing and finishing machines with US$78.83 million.

TAMI's statistics showed the largest export outlet for Taiwan-made sewing machines was Hong Kong and mainland China together which absorbed US$55.5 million worth of the product in the first half of this year, accounting for 22% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$49.37 million, accounting for 19.5%. Japan stood at the third place with US$41.29 million, accounting for 16.3% of the total.

Hong Kong and mainland China together were also the largest export outlet for Taiwan-made textile machines other than sewing machines by taking up US$125 million, or 44.9% of the total export of the product, in the first half of this year.

Other major export outlets for Taiwan-made textile machines other than sewing machines in the first half of this year included India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey.