| Synthetic resin is an important sector of the specialty chemical industry, involving capital-intensive and technology-intensive production and great linking effect on the development of other industries. It has contributed significantly to Taiwan's economic development by serving as a key material for domestic traditional and newly emerging industries.
In recent years, local makers in the line have been forced to engage in price-cutting competition, and have been plagued by a labor shortage, foreign dominance of vital materials and protests from environmental protectionists. With these, makers can hardly lower their production costs, only to see their prices and profits drop annually.
Nevertheless, as the new applications of synthetic resin are emerging and the government is actively promoting the development of such industries as automobile, high-class materials, specialty chemicals, textile, aerospace, information technology hardware and consumer electronics, which are closely related to the use of synthetic resin. Accordingly, the domestic synthetic resin industry still boasts great development potential. |
