Taiwan Sees Machinery Exports Grow 8.9% in First 3 Qtrs

Taipei, Dec. 2, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$12.932 billion of machinery in the first three quarters of this year, for an 8.9% year-on-year growth, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The category of machine tools as category led with export value reaching US$2.912 billion in the first three quarters of this year, up 15.6% from a year earlier. The second place went to the category of special-purpose machinery with US$996.98 million, up 10.2%. Other export categories of machine tools are tabled below.

In terms of export outlets, the mainland China and Hong Kong together ranked first by absorbing US$3.629 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first three quarters of this year, down a mere 0.9% and accounting for 28.1% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$1.993 billion, up 2.2% and commanding 15.4%. Japan stood at the third place with US$750.76 million, up 6.8% and accounting for 5.8%.

Vietnam was Taiwan's fourth-largest buyer of machinery by grabbing US$502.25 million of the products in the first three quarters of this year, up 7.2% year-on-year. Germany ranked fifth with US$493.98 million, up 26.2%. The sixth place went to Thailand with US$405.32 million, up 2.9%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, include Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Brazil, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Singapore, Canada, Australia, France, United Arab Emirate, Spain, Finland, the Philippines, Russia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

The TAMI statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$14.713 billion worth of machinery in the first three quarters of this year, up 6% year-on-year. The largest import item was special-purpose machinery totaling US$4.145 billion, up 3.5% from a year earlier and accounting for 28.2% of the total imports. Other import categories are also tabled below.

The TAMI said Taiwan still mostly relied on Japan and the U.S. for imported machinery in the first three quarters of this year, with Japan selling the most to Taiwan-totaling US$6.153 billion in the first three quarters of this year, up 5.3% year-on-year and accounting for 41.8% of the total imports.

The USA was the second biggest supplier of machinery to Taiwan at US$3.198 billion, down 13.1% and accounting for 21.7%. The mainland China and Hong Kong together stood at the third place with US$1.47 billion, up 37.4% and commanding 10%. The fourth place went to Germany with US$1.341 billion, up 28.5% and accounting for 9.1%.

Other major suppliers of machinery to Taiwan included, in descending order, South Korea, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in First 3Q of 2008 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2007	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,519,900	2,912,858	15.6
2	Special-purpose Machinery	904,869	996,980	10.2
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	765,073	839,599	9.7
4	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	629,641	709,960	12.8
5	Valves & Parts	705,023	656,150	-6.9
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	447,825	550,555	22.9
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	490,005	547,641	11.8
8	Woodworking Machinery	497,808	487,534	-2.1
9	Molds & Dies	379,469	399,306	5.2
10	Textile Machinery	495,167	386,406	-22
11	Sewing Machines	290,990	276,380	-5
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	204,691	199,826	-2.4
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	57,833	67,628	16.9
	Others	3,484,747	3,901,695	12
	Total	11,873,041	12,932,518	8.9
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery by Taiwan in First 3Q of 2008 by Product Category Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2007	Jan.-Sept. 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	4,005,203	4,145,727	3.5
2	Machine Tools	2,053,299	1,316,605	-35.9
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	724,281	814,751	12.5
4	Engines & Parts	702,016	614,223	-12.5
5	Valves & Parts	462,072	484,280	4.8
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	249,558	265,168	6.3
7	Textile Machinery	288,553	255,932	-11.3
	Others	5,398,217	6,817,034	26.3
	Total	13,883,199	14,713,720	6
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry