Taiwan's machinery exports up 23.1% to US$5.96B. In first half

Taipei, Aug. 31, 2004 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$5.96 billion worth of machinery in the first half of this year, up 23.1% from the same period of last year, according to the customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Directorate General of Customs under the Ministry of Finance.

In terms of product categories, machine tools ranked first with export value amounting to US$1.018 billion in the first half of this year, up 36% from the like period of last year; pumps and fans ranked second with US$455 million, up 23%; plastic and rubber processing machinery stood at third place with US$453 million, representing an increase of 27%; special-purpose machines ranked fourth with US$373 million, up 54%; vales ranked fifth with US$338 million, up 22%; and woodworking machinery stood at the sixth place with US$338 million, an increase of 22%.

Other major export items included textile machinery with US$279 million, up 8%; molds and dies with US$278 million, up 9%; sewing machines with US$252 million, up 9%; bearings, gears and ball screws with US$270 million, up 20%; paper and printing machines with US$95 million, up 2%; leather and shoemaking machines with US$570 million, down 11%.

In terms of export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$2.2 billion of Taiwan-made machines in the first half of this year, up 20% from the same period of this year and accounting for 36.9% of the total export of the products. The second place went to the U.S. with US$1.057 billion, up 29% and accounting for 17.7%; Japan ranked third with US$314 million, up 6% and accounting for 5.3%; Thailand ranked fourth with US$268 million, up 33%; Vietnam with US$189 million, up 6%; Malaysia with US$158 million, up 23%.

Other major outlets included Indonesia, up 14%; Germany, up 25%; Turkey, up 61%; Canada, up 16%; South Korea, up 29%; Britain, up 31%; Singapore, up 45%; India, up 80%; Italy, up 11%; Australia, up 16%; Holland, up 17%; and the Philippines, up 13%.

Top executives with Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI) noted Taiwan imported US$7.958 billion worth of machinery in the first half of this year, representing a substantial annual growth of 49%. Of this, special-purpose machinery ranked first with US$2.482 billion in the first half of this year, up 40% from the like period of last year and accounting for 31.2% of the total imports. TAMI said the imported special-purpose machinery is mainly used by the semiconductor and 3C (computer, communications, and consumer electronics) industries.

Machine tools were the second-largest imported machinery category with the value amounting to US$895 million, up 169% and accounting for 11.3% of the total. Pumps and fans ranked third with US$466 million, up 32% and accounting for 5.9%; plastic and rubber processing machinery ranked fourth with US$340 million, up 72% and accounting for 4.3%; engines and parts and components ranked fifth with import value reaching US$328 million, up 37% and accounting for 4.1% of the total; valve ranked sixth with US$236 million, up 42% and accounting for 3% of the total; textile machinery ranked seven with US$166 million, up 6% and accounting for 2.1%.

TAMI noted Taiwan mainly relies on Japan and the U.S. for the supply of machinery. Taiwan imported US$4.18 billion worth of machinery from Japan in the first half of this year, up 41% from the like period of last year and accounting for 52.5% of the total imports; The U.S. was the second largest import source with US$1.668 billion, up 102% and accounting for 21% of the total imports; The third place went to Germany with US$544 million, up 34% and accounting for 6.8%; Mainland China ranked fourth with US$440 million, up 68% and accounting for 5.1% of the total. Other major import sources included South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Britain, and France.

TAMI predicted Taiwan's machinery industry would see 20% and 20-25% annual growth in total production and exports, respectively, this year.