Taiwan to Be World's No.2 Woodworking Equipment Exporter

Taipei, July 10, 2008 (CENS)--Bill Hung, chairman of the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association, said he was confident that Taiwan would unseat Italy to be the world's No.2 exporter of woodworking machinery, via the impressive effort of Taiwan equipment suppliers to improve products.

Hung noted that Taiwan equipment suppliers have been gung-ho to improve mechanical precision, computerization and speed.

TWMA recently co-organized an international woodworking-machinery trade fair in Taipei, during whose opening ceremony Hung said that currently Taiwan is only behind Germany and Italy as the world's third-largest exporter of such machines. Last year alone, Taiwan's woodworking-machinery industry generated revenue totaling NT$22.9 billion (US$763 million at US$1:NT$30), up 9.3% from a year earlier, and exported US$683 million of machines, a gain of 8.4% from the previous year.

Hung noted that the United States was Taiwan's biggest buyer of the machines last year although the export inched down 0.8%. Meanwhile, Taiwan exports to Germany registered the highest growth at 59%. The top 10 export destinations for Taiwan's woodworking machines last year were the United Sates, mainland China, Canada, Vietnam, Malaysia, Germany, Thailand, Indonesia, Finland and South Korea, which collectively absorbed 80% of Taiwan exports.

It was the 10th event of the triennially held show this year. Co-organizers also included the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the non-official Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry. The 2008 fair drew 182 suppliers to man 1,070 booths, 10% more booths than three years ago.

HOMAG of Germany, the world's biggest woodworking-equipment supplier, was among the major foreign exhibitors this year. In addition to the German exhibitor, foreign exhibitors mainly came from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Major foreign buyers included SAS GEDIMO of France, PROSAW of the United Kingdom, Cantek America of Canada, Tecnomaderas of Guatemala, TEMSA of El Salvador, and MWM Group of Ukraine, with around 10 buyers from mainland China also having visited the fair.