| Despite such unfavorable factors as rising international crude oil prices, natural disasters, the interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserves and the threat of the avian flu, Taiwan still managed to score an economic growth of 4.09% in 2005. This, in turn, caused the production value of Taiwan's entire manufacturing sector to grow 3% last year. But the local plastic products manufacturing industry also saw its output value drop 6.3% to NT$263.8 billion and witnessed its export value shrink 11.7% to NT$182.4 billion in 2005, due mainly to the exodus of the upstream makers and the keen price-cutting competition in international markets.
The local plastic products manufacturing industry is plagued by such problems as concentration of export markets, overseas relocation of production lines, high reliance on imported materials, low automation of production processes, and insufficient R & D investment.
Looking to the future, makers in the line should step up efforts to develop international markets, adjust their product structures, develop and produce high-value-added products, and upgrade the materials and technologies, so as to secure a healthier development of the local plastic products manufacturing industry. |
