Taiwan's machinery output value up 6.11% to NT$402 B. in 2002

Taipei, March 10, 2003 (CENS)--Total production value of Taiwan's machinery industry came to NT$402.1 billion in 2002, representing a growth of 6.11% from 2001, according to statistics compiled by the Industrial Technology Information Service under the economics ministry.

IT IS tallies showed that of various machinery products made in Taiwan, rubber and plastics processing machinery posted the best production performance, with the output value reaching NT$42.9 billion in 2002. Textile and garment processing machines came second with NT$34 billion. Metal cutting machine tools came third with NT$32.2 billion, up 15.43% from 2001, compared to NT$15.9 billion for metal forming machine tools, up 11.68%.

IT IS officials said locally made machines with higher export ratios all recorded an annual production growth of over 10% in 2002, including machine tools, plastics and rubber processing machines, woodworking machines, and textile machines.

In 2002, the island's total machinery exports were estimated at NT$343 billion, up 10.1% from 2001. This marked the first time in five years that Taiwan's machinery exports enjoyed a positive annual expansion.

IT IS tallies also indicated that up to 85.3% of Taiwan's machinery output was exported, a record high ratio of its kind.