Taiwan's machinery exports rose 9.7% in the first four months

Taipei, July 5, 2005 (CENS)--Exports of Taiwan-made machinery amounted to US$4.1307 billion in the first four months of this year, up 9.7% from the corresponding period of last year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of major export items, machine tools ranked first with export value hitting US$805.9 million in the first four months, up 26% year-on-year. Pumps, compressors, and fans ranked second with US$296.33 million, down 1% annually. The third place went to plastic and rubber processing machines with US$291.49 million, up 3%. Special-purpose machines ranked fourth with US$235.9 million, up 3%. Woodworking machines stood at the fifth place with US$226.61 million, up 5%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were valves (US$221.95 million, up 4%), molds and dies (US$188.72 million, up 6%), textile machines (US$173.52 million, down 2%), sewing machines (US$168.02 million, up 2%), bearings, gears, and ball screws (US$155.16 million, up 18%), papermaking and printing machines (US$70.03 million, up 20%), and leather and shoemaking machines (US$38.98 million, down 1%).

In terms of major export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$1.379 billion worth of the products, representing an annual increase of 0.4% and accounting for 33.4% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$733.85 million, up 10% and commanding 17.8%. Japan stood at the third place with US$243.83 million, up 18% and accounting for 5.9%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, Turkey, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia, Holland, Spain, the Philippines, France, Untied Arab Emirate, Mexico, Finland, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

The TAMI tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$6.697 billion worth of machinery in the first four months of this year, for a sharp annual increase of 25.7%.

Of major import items, special-purpose machines ranked first with import value reaching US$2.511 billion, up 44% year-on-year and accounting for 37.5% of the total imports. The machines were mainly employed by such industries as semiconductor and 3C (computer, communications, and consumer electronics). Machine tools stood at the second place with US$498.83 million, down 19% annually and commanding 7.4% of the total. The third place went to pumps, compressors and fans with US$366.92 million, up 28% and accounting for 5.5% of the total.

Engines and components ranked fourth with US$352.76 million, up 65% and accounting for 5.3%. The fifth place went to valves with US$166.35 million, up 14% and commanding 2.5% of the total. Plastic and rubber processing machines ranked sixth with US$108.49 million, down 53% and accounting for 1.6%. Textile machines ranked seventh with US$102.32 million, up 9% and accounting for 1.5%.

TAMI vice president Wang Cheng-ching noted these imported machines were mainly used by the industries of optoelectronics, communications, information technology and semiconductors.

Wang said Taiwan mainly relied on Japan and the U.S. for machinery imports. Japan was the largest import source, supplying US$3.924 billion worth machines to Taiwan in the first four months of this year, up 36% and commanding 58.6% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$1.143 billion, down 1% and accounting for 17.1% of the total. The third place went to Germany with US$399.84 million, up 20% and accounting for 6% of the total.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were mainland China and Hong Kong together, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

Exports of Taiwan-made machines in Jan.-April, 2005 Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Products	Jan.-April, 2004	Jan.-April, 2005	Annual Change
1	Machine Tools	640,256	805,911	26
2	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	299,167	296,338	-1
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	283,737	291,490	3
4	Special-Purpose machines	288,375	235,903	3
5	Woodworking machines	215,836	226,617	5
6	Valves & Parts	212,849	221,951	4
7	Molds & Dies	178,055	188,729	6
8	Textile Machines	177,693	173,524	-2
9	Sewing Machines	165,403	168,027	2
10	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	131,375	155,166	18
11	Papermaking, Printing Machines	58,213	70,037	20
12	Leather & Shoemaking Machines	39,446	38,985	-1
	Others	1,134,583	1,258,113	11
	Total	3,764,988	4,130,791	9.7
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry