Taiwan's machine tool exports soared 25.9% in first four months

Taipei, July 4, 2005 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$805.91 million worth of machine tools in the first four months of this year, up 25.9% from the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools grew 26% year-on-year to US$599.52 million and those of metal-forming machine tools advanced by 25% to US$206.38 million.

Of the metal-cutting machine tools, machining centers saw exports grow 39% annually in the first four months of this year, lathes 32%, electric discharge machines 30%, and sawing machines 42%, with the remainders growing at a slower pace. In the metal-forming machine tool category, exports of presses and shearing machines grew 19% year-on-year, with others growing 49%.

In terms of major export outlets for domestically made machine tools, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$319.07 million worth of the products in the first four months of this year, up 7% from the like period of last year and accounting for 39.6% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$81.74 million, up 73% and commanding 10.1% of the total. The third place went to Turkey with US$42.43 million, up 25% annually and accounting for 5.3% of the total.

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

The TMTF tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$498.83 million worth of machine tools in the first four months of this year, down 18.7% from the corresponding period of last year.

Imports of metal-cutting machines tools came to US$466.04 million in the first four months of this year, down 19% annually, and metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$32.79 million, down 12%.

TMTF CEO Wang Cheng-ching attributed the slump in imports of machine tools to the sluggish demand of hi-tech industries for advanced machine tools. He said the decline in imports of machine tools was mainly seen in inbound shipments of non-conventional machine tools ( which saw an annual decline of 31%), and machining centers (which posted an annual decline of 14%). Nevertheless, imports of lathes grew 7% year-on-year in the first four months of this year, boring and milling machines grew 19%, and grinding machines advanced 148%.

In terms of major import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$302.95 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first four months of this year, up 1% year-on-year and accounting for a whopping 60.7% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$106.38 million, down 5$% and commanding 21.3% of the total. Germany was the third-largest import source with US$28.13 million, up 7% and accounting for 5.6%.

Exports of Taiwan-Made Machine Tools in Jan.-April, 2005 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-April, 2004	Jan.-April, 2005	Annual Change
EDMs, Laser-Cutting Machines, etc.	35,574	46,173	30%
Machining Centers	170,164	236,133	39%
Lathes	110,848	146,244	32%
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	88,009	80,364	-9%
Grinding Machines	39,021	46,173	18%
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	31,269	44,441	42%
Presses & Shearing Machines	133,296	158,534	19%
Other Metal-Forming Machines	32,075	47,849	49%
Total	640,256	805,911	26%
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation