Taiwan's Machinery Exports Surge 10.8% in First Four Months

Taipei, June 30, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$5.173 billion worth of machinery in the first four months of this year, representing a 10.8% year-on-year growth, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The category of machine tools led with export value reaching US$1.199 billion, up 23.3%. The second place went to special-purpose machinery with US$433.545 million, up 16.1%. Plastics and rubber machinery stood at the third place with US$3341.9 million, up 10.4%. The fourth place went to the category of valves and parts with US$300.092 million, up 4%. The fifth place was occupied by the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$293.703 million, up 11.2%. The sixth place went to the category of bearings, gears and ball screws with US$225.342 million, up 27.7%. The category of machine-tool parts and components took seventh place with US$209.842 million, up 12.6%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were woodworking machinery (US$209.295 million, up 7.7%), textile machinery (US$171.464 million, down 18.3%), molds and dies (US$165.471 million, up 4%), sewing machinery (US$125.343 million, up a mere 0.2%), paper making and printing machinery (US$87.757 million, down 13.3%), and leather and shoes making machines (US$29.34 million, up 9%).

In terms of export destinations, mainland China and Hong Kong together were the largest export outlet by absorbing US$1.449 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first four months of this year, up a mere 0.7% and accounting for 28% of the total exports. The U.S. came second with US$761.23 million, up 2.4% and commanding 14.7%. Japan took third place with US$284.31 million, down 1.2% and accounting for 5.5%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Vietnam (US$200.08 million, up 51.4% annually), Germany (US$197.71 million, up 38.8%), Thailand (US$165.93 million, up 1.3%), Indonesia (US$146.88 million, up 36.2%), India (US$142.07 million, up 39.9%).

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$6.865 billion worth of machinery in the first four months of this year, up 22.7% year-on-year.

Special-purpose machinery ranked as the largest import item with value of US$2.162 billion, up 47.1% and accounting for 31.5% of the total imports. Machine tools came second with US$703.04 million, down 2.8% and accounting for 10.2%. The third place went to the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$359.38 million, up 13.9% and accounting for 5.2%.

Other major imported items, in descending order, were engines and parts, valves and parts, textile machinery, and plastics and rubber processing machinery.

In terms of import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$3.021 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan in the first four months of this year, up 25.1% year-on-year and commanding 44% of the total imports. The U.S. came second with US$1.567 billion, up 16.9% and taking 22.8%. The third place went to mainland China and Hong Kong together with US$587.58 million, up 33.8% and accounting for 8.6%.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were Germany, South Korea, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan.-April 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-April 2007	Jan.-April 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	993,883	1,199,908	20.7
2	Special-purpose Machinery	373,548	433,545	16.1
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	309,766	341,905	10.4
4	Valves & Parts	288,612	300,092	4
5	Pumps, compressors, Fans	264,069	293,703	11.2
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	176,524	225,342	27.7
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	186,363	209,842	12.6
8	Woodworking Machinery	194,383	209,295	7.7
9	Textile Machinery	209,884	171,464	-18.3
10	Molds & Dies	159,048	165,471	4
11	Sewing Machines	125,144	125,343	0.2
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	101,161	87,757	-13.3
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	21,392	29,340	37.2
	Others	1,267,125	1,380,840	9
	Total	4,670,902	5,173,847	10.8
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry