Taiwan's machine tool exports up 25.5% to US$1.278 billion in first 6 months of 2005

Taipei, Sept. 5, 2005 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.278 billion worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, up 25.5% from the corresponding period of last year, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$954.79 million, up 26% annually and those for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$323.36 million, representing an annual growth of 24%.

In terms of individual items, machining centers posted an annual export growth of 36%, and lathes 34%. The annual export rate was 26% for electric discharge machines (EDMs), 45% for shaping, sawing and gearing machines, 18% for presses and shearing machines, and 50% for other metal-forming machines.

In terms of the largest export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$513.66 million worth of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first half of this year, up 8% and accounting for 40.2% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$122.97 million, up 59% and commanding 9.6%. The third place went to Turkey with US$72.4 million, up 25% and commanding 5.7%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, Holland, South Korea, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Brazil, and Canada.

The TMTF's statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$823.74 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, down 8% from the like period of last year. Imports of metal-cutting machines came to US$762.42 million, down 9% annually and those of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$61.31 million, up 8%.

In terms of the largest import sources, Japan ranked first by exporting US$470.67 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first half of this year, up 9% and accounting for 57.1% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$206.99 million, down 40% and commanding 25.1%. The third place went to Germany with US$40.18 million, up 1% and accounting for 4.9%.

Exports of Taiwan-Made Machine Tools in Jan.-June 2005 Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2004	Jan.-June 2005	Change (%)
EDM, Laser Cutting Machines	55,943	70,580	26
Machining Centers	272,573	370,325	36
Lathes	176,932	237,150	34
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	140,538	130,156	-7
Grinding Machines	63,468	76,076	20
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	48,701	70,512	45
Presses & Shearing Machines	209,862	247,857	18
Other Metal-Forming Machines	50,337	75,507	50
Total	1,018,354	1,278,163	25.5
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry