TAMI: Taiwan's Exports of Machinery Down 35.1% in Q1

Taipei, June 8, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.6 billion of machinery in the first quarter of 2009, down 35.1% year-on-year from US$4.007 billion, according to the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The export of machine tools led in value reaching US$444.85 million in the first quarter of 2009, down 50.9% year-on-year. The second place went to the category of valves and parts with US$164.97 million, down 25.4%. The category of plastic and rubber processing machinery ranked third with US$152.81 million, down 37.9%.

Mainland China and Hong Kong together led as top buyers by absorbing US$539.96 million of Taiwan-made machinery in the first quarter of 2009, down 51.9% year-on-year and accounting for 20.8% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$527.63 million, down 12.4% and commanding 20.3%. Japan stood at the third place with US$238.19 million, down 2.5% and accounting for 9.2%.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$2.895 billion of machinery in the first quarter of 2009, down 42.2% year-on-year.

The import of special-purpose machinery led with value reaching US$360.75 million, down 77.7% year-on-year and accounting for 12.5% of the total. The second place was the category of engines and parts with US$169.23 million, down 23.7% and accounting for 5.8%. The third place went to the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$157.2 million, down 41% and commanding 5.4%.

Japan topped as the biggest supplier to Taiwan by selling US$1.478 billion of machinery in the first quarter of 2009, down 33.1% year-on-year and commanding 51.1% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$383.32 million, down 66.5% and commanding 13.2%. The third place went to mainland China and Hong Kong together with US$272.18 million, down 33.9% and accounting for 9.4%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery (Jan.-March 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-March 2008	Jan.-March 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	905,671	444,859	-50.9
2	Valves & Parts	221,095	164,974	-25.4
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	246,161	152,819	-37.9
4	Pumps, compressors, Fans	216,962	145,907	-32.7
5	Special-purpose Machinery	308,596	139,979	-54.6
6	Molds & Dies	126,751	108,274	-14.6
7	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	168,493	107,578	-36.2
8	Machine-tool Parts & Components	168,343	73,685	-56.2
9	Woodworking Machinery	150,088	70,973	-52.7
10	Textile Machinery	130,105	68,900	-47
11	Sewing Machines	94,259	56,460	-40.1
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	64,346	41,945	-34.8
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	22,851	10,259	-55.1
	Others	1,183,989	1,014,170	-14.3
	Total	4,007,710	2,600,782	-35.1
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan (Jan.-March 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-March 2008	Jan.-March 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	1,617,718	360,754	-77.7
2	Engines & Parts	221,811	169,238	-23.7
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	266,323	157,200	-41
4	Valves & Parts	147,354	89,657	-39.2
5	Machine Tools	539,357	81,168	-85
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	67,725	45,174	-33.3
7	Textile Machinery	87,071	39,210	-55
	Others	2,061,634	1,953,108	-5.3
	Total	5,008,993	2,895,509	-42.2
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry