Taiwan's Machinery Exports Grows 39.7% in January

Taipei, April 7, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan machinery industry exported US$1.66 billion of machines in January, up 39.7% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The largest-export item was machine tools totaling US$298.23 million, up 67.6% from a year earlier. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machines with US$106.23 million, up 37.7%. Special-purpose machines ranked third with US$97.39 million, up 30.9%. (See table below)

China was the largest buyer of Taiwan-made machinery by absorbing US$528.84 million of the products in January, up 39% year-on-year and accounting for 31.9% of the total exports. The USA was second at US$230.18 million, up 40% and commanding 13.9%. Japan was third with US$94.4 million, up 42.1% and accounting for 5.7%.

The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$2.445 billion of machinery in January, up 49.4% from a year earlier.

The largest import was machinery for ICs and semiconductor industry totaling US$1.139 billion in January, up 59% year-on-year and accounting for 46.6% of the total imports. The second place was special-purpose machines with US$122.63 million, down 5.1% and commanding 5%. Material-handling equipment ranked third with US$106.4 million, up 104.7% and commanding 4.4%. (See table below)

Japan was the biggest supplier of machinery to Taiwan by selling US$839.58 million of machinery in January, up 36.9% year-on-year and accounting for 34.3% of the total imports. The USA was second at US$622.4 million, up 69.5% and commanding 25.5%; China and Hong Kong together ranked third with US$206.88 million, up 26% and commanding 8.5%. Other major suppliers, in descending order, were Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, England and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery by Product (Jan. 2011) Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	January 2010	January 2011	Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	177,899	298,234	67.6
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	77,154	106,238	37.7
3	Special-purpose Machinery	74,419	97,397	30.9
4	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	63,221	96,327	52.4
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	71,078	95,767	34.7
6	Valves & Parts	65,864	93,765	42.4
7	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	46,328	81,375	75.6
8	Machine-tool Parts & Components	51,724	79,995	54.7
9	Textile Machinery	45,602	67,337	47.7
10	Molds & Dies	37,619	50,276	33.6
11	Woodworking Machinery	40,402	48,482	20
12	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	32,258	44,207	37
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	35,846	35,706	-0.4
	Others	368,507	464,986	26.2
	Total	1,187,921	1,660,092	39.7
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Machinery Imports into Taiwan by Product (Jan. 2011) Unit: US$ million
Rank	Produce Category	January 2010	January 2011	Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	716,239	1,139,110	59
2	Special-purpose Machinery	129,198	122,637	-5.1
3	Equipment for Materials Treatment	51,993	106,447	104.7
4	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	85,433	101,433	18.7
5	Engines & Parts	58,794	88,075	49.8
6	Glassware-making Machinery	20,237	75,397	272.6
7	Components and Parts	51,692	75,103	45.3
8	Machine Tools	43,828	58,283	33
9	Valves & Parts	42,052	58,156	38.3
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	36,361	47,868	31.6
11	Textile Machinery	28,150	38,195	35.7
12	Handling Equipment	43,090	21,974	-49
13	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	19,319	20,064	3.9
	Others	309,797	492,436	59
	Total	1,636,183	2,445,178	49.4
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry