Exports of Taiwan-Made Machines Rose 6.3% in 2005

Taipei, March 9, 2006 (CENS)--Taiwan' s overall machinery exports amounted to US$13.143 billion in 2005, representing an increase of 6.3% from the previous year, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The largest export item went to the category of machine tools with export value reaching US$2.658 billion last year, up 18.1% year-on-year. Plastics and rubber processing machines ranked second with US$949.17 million, up 3%. The third place went to the category of pumps, fans and compressors with US$870.83 million, down 2%. Special-purpose machinery stood at the fourth place with US$777.28 million, up 0.8%. The fifth place went to valves and parts with US$705.057 million, up 2.2%. Woodworking machinery ranked sixth with US$676.227 million, down 6.6%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were molds & dies; textile machinery; sewing machines; bearings, gears, and ball screws; paper-making, printing machines; and leather & shoes making machines.

Hong Kong and mainland China together were the largest export outlet by absorbing US$4.52 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery last year, up 0.6% year-on-year and accounting for 34.4% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$2.244 billion, up 1.2% and commanding 17.1%. Japan ranked third with US$745.62 million, up 15.1% and accounting for 5.7%. The fourth place went to Thailand with US$505.35 million, down 5.8%. Vietnam stood at the fifth place with US$445.13 million, up 14.2%.

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

The TAMI tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$17.85 billion worth of machinery in 2005, down 1.8% year-on-year. Special-purpose machines ranked first with US$5.726 billion, down 7.3% annually and accounting for 32.1% of the total. The second place went to machine tools with US$1.511 billion, down 23.6% and commanding 8.5%. The third place went to the category of pumps, fans and compressors with US$1.084 billion, up 10.6% and commanding 6.1%. The fourth place went to engines and parts with US$908.36 million, up 22.5% and accounting for 5.1%. Valves and parts ranked fifth with US$548.93 million, up 12.8% and commanding 3.1%.

Other major import items in the same period, in descending order, were plastics and rubber processing machines with US$302.1 million, and textile machines with US$297.75 million.

According to TAMI' s analysis, Taiwan still relied on Japan and the U.S. for imported machinery in 2005. Japan was the island' s largest import source by selling US$9.476 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan in 2005, down 4.6% year-on-year and accounting for 53.1% of the total. The U.S. came second with US$3.374 billion, down 9.8% and commanding 18.9%. The third place went to Germany with US$1.225 billion, up 2% and accounting for 6.9%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were Hong Kong and mainland China together, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, and France.

Taiwan Machinery Exports in 2005 Unit: US$1, 000
Rank	Products	2004	2005	Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2, 250, 526	2, 658, 897	18.1
2	Plastics & Rubber Machines	921, 628	949, 177	3
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	888, 455	870, 837	-2
4	Special-Purpose Machines	771, 312	777, 282	0.8
5	Valves & Parts	689, 624	705, 057	2.2
6	Woodworking Machines	723, 696	676, 227	-6.6
7	Molds & Dies	575, 088	598, 148	4
8	Textile Machines	543, 417	544, 835	0.3
9	Sewing Machines	511, 867	506, 716	-1
10	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	435, 525	498, 431	14.4
11	Paper Making, Printing Machines	197, 028	236, 693	20.1
12	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	108, 195	106, 979	-1.1
13	Others	3, 749, 423	4, 014, 302	7.1
Total		12, 365, 784	13, 143, 581	6.3
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Taiwan Machinery Imports in 2005 Unit: US$1, 000
Rank	Products	2004	2005	Change (%)
1	Special-Purpose Machinery	6, 173, 834	5, 726, 154	-7.3
2	Machine Tools	1, 978, 207	1, 511, 126	-23.6
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	980, 170	1, 084, 249	10.6
4	Engines & Parts	741, 476	908, 363	22.5
5	Valves & Parts	486, 798	548, 932	12.8
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	596, 646	302, 100	-49.4
7	Textile Machinery	339, 561	297, 752	-12.3
8	Others	6, 890, 960	7, 478, 499	8.5
Total		18, 187, 652	17, 857, 175	-1.8
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry