Taiwan's machinery exports soared 38% in January

Taipei, April 14, 2005 (CENS)--Taiwan's machinery exports came to US$1.139 billion in January, up 38% from US$806.53 million registered in the same month of last year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of major exported machinery products, machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$220.67 million in January, representing a whopping annual growth of 65%. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machines with US$83.84 million, up 38%. Pumps, compressors and fans ranked third with US$79.37 million, up 26%. Special-purpose machines ranked fourth with US$67.35 million, up 65%. Woodworking machinery ranked fifth with US$65.56 million, advancing 26%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were valves (US$58.96 million, up 23%), textile machines (US$48.39 million, up 30%), molds and dies (US$47.79 million, up 15%), sewing machines (US$44.68 million, up 27%), bearings, gears, and ball screws (US$41.36 million, up 50%), paper-making and printing machines (US$20.47 million, up 61%), and leather and shoe-making machines (US$11.21 million, up 5%).

Hong Kong and mainland China together remained the largest export outlet for Taiwan-made machines by absorbing US$395.26 million worth of the products in January, up 50% from the same period of last year and commanding 35.5% of the island's total machinery exports in the month. The U.S. ranked second with US$185.82 million, up 20% and accounting for 16.7%. The third place went to Japan with US$68.19 million, up 46% and commanding 6.1%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand (US$47.03 million), Vietnam (US$38.111 million), Indonesia (US$30.16 million), and Malaysia (US$26.96 million).

The TAMI statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$1.766 billion worth of machinery in January, representing a year-on-year growth of 76.4%. Special-purpose machines commanded the largest share of the imports at US$607.8 million, up 106% annually and commanding 34.4% of the total imports. The second place went to machine tools with US$118.41 million, up 4% and commanding 6.7%. Engines and components with US$105.26 million, up 172% and commanding 6%. Pumps, compressors and fans ranked fourth with US$99.89 million, up 67% and accounting for 5.7%. Valves ranked fifth with US$41.33 million, up 40% and commanding 2.3%.

Other major imported machinery products, in descending order, were textile machinery (US$34.58 million), and plastics and rubber processing machines (US$33.27 million). TAMI said most of the imported machines were used in the industries of optical electronics, communications, and semiconductors.

In terms of the major import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$951.62 million worth of machines to Taiwan in January, up 85% annually and commanding 53.9% of the island's total machinery imports for the month. The U.S. ranked second with US$341.54 million, up 58% and accounting for 19.3% of the total. The third place went to Germany with US$113.37 million, up 49% and commanding 6.4%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were Hong Kong and mainland China together, South Korea, Switzerland, Britain, France, and Italy.

Exports of Taiwan-Made Machinery in Jan. 2005 Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan. 2004	Jan. 2005	Annual Growth (%)
Machine Tools	133,646	220,678	65
Plastics & Rubber Machines	60,715	83,848	38
Pumps, Compressors, Fans	63,227	79,370	26
Special-Purpose Machines	40,742	67,356	65
Woodworking Machines	51,877	65,561	26
Valves & Parts	47,922	58,963	23
Textile Machines	37,167	48,390	30
Molds & Dies	41,489	47,791	15
Sewing Machines	35,234	44,686	27
Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	27,533	41,366	50
Paper-Making, Printing Machines	12,715	20,479	61
Leather & Shoe-Making Machines	10,670	11,212	5
Others	243,595	324,236	33
Total	806,532	1,113,936	38
Source: Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Finance