Taiwan Saw Machinery Exports Surge 6.4% Jan.-Nov. 2005

Taipei, Jan. 27, 2006 (CENS)--Exports of Taiwan-made machinery amounted to US$12.011 billion in the first 11 months of 2005, up 6.4% year-on-year, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of the largest export items in this period, machine tools ranked first with an export value reaching US$2.4176 billion, up 19%. Plastics and rubber processing machinery ranked second with US$863.75 million, up 2%. Pumps, compressors, and fans took third place with US$801.1 million, down 1%. The fourth place went to special-purpose machines with US$698.15 million, down 1%. Valves and parts ranked fifth with US$642.71 million, up 2%. Woodworking machinery was the sixth-largest export item with US$629.37 million, down 4%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were molds and dies (US$544.81 million, up 4%); textile machinery (US$493.3 million, down 1%); sewing machines (US$466.95 million, down 0.5%); bearings, gears and ball screws (US$453.9 million, up 14%); paper-making and printing machines (US$219.1 million, up 22%); and leather and shoe-making machines (US$98.98 million, up 2%).

In terms of the major export outlets for Taiwan-made machinery in the first 11 months of last year, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$4.098 billion worth of the products, down 1% year-on-year and accounting for 34.1% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$2.073 billion, up 2% and accounting for 17.3%. Japan was the third-largest export outlet with US$689.53 million, up 17% and accounting for 5.7%.

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

TAMI statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$16.797 billion worth of machinery in the first 11 months of last year, up 1.8% from the corresponding period of the preceding year.

Of the major import items, special-purpose machines ranked first with an import value reaching US$5.53 billion, down 1% annually and accounting for 32.9% of the total imports. The second largest-import item went to machine tools with US$1.415 billion, down 20% and accounting for 8.4%. Pumps, compressors, and fans ranked third with US$999.35 million, up 12% and accounting for 5.9%. Engines and parts stood at the fourth place with US$844.57 million, up 27% and accounting for 5%. Valves and parts ranked fifth with US$500.3 million, up 14% and commanding 3%.

Other major import items, in descending order, were plastics and rubber processing machines (US$284.05 million, down 49% and commanding 1.7%), and textile machinery (US$276.58 million, down 10% and accounting for 1.6%).

Japan was the largest import source, selling US$9.014 billion worth of products to Taiwan in the first 11 months of last year, representing a flat growth from the corresponding period of the previous year and commanding 53.7% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$3.168 billion, down 7% and commanding 18.9%. Germany stood at the third place with US$1.138 billion, up 3% and accounting for 6.8%.

Exports of Taiwan-Made Machinery From Jan.-Nov. 2005 by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Rank	Products	Jan.-Nov. 2004	Jan.-Nov. 2005	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2, 026, 677	2, 417, 643	19.3
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	843, 058	863, 756	2.5
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	813, 218	801, 144	-1.5
4	Special-Purpose Machinery	706, 127	698, 158	-1.1
5	Valves & Parts	627, 848	642, 711	2.4
6	Woodworking Machinery	658, 822	629, 374	-4.5
7	Molds & Dies	525, 354	544, 816	3.7
8	Textile Machinery	498, 599	493, 303	-1.1
9	Sewing Machines	469, 216	466, 953	-0.5
10	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	397, 546	453, 900	14.2
11	Paper-Making, Printing Machinery	179, 599	219, 109	22
12	Leather & Shoe-Making Machines	97, 298	98, 984	1.7
	Others	3, 445, 573	3, 681, 882	6.9
	Total	11, 288, 935	12, 011, 733	6.4
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

　

Imports of Machinery by Taiwan From Jan.-Nov. 2005 by Products Unit: US$1, 000
Rank	Products	Jan.-Nov. 2004	Jan.-Nov. 2005	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-Purpose Machinery	5, 597, 923	5, 530, 785	-1.2
2	Machine Tools	1, 776, 790	1, 415, 988	-20.3
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	892, 136	999, 357	12
4	Engines & Parts	665, 891	844, 570	26.8
5	Valves & Parts	440, 700	500, 329	13.5
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	556, 211	284, 050	-48.9
7	Textile Machinery	307, 991	276, 584	-10.2
	Others	6, 270, 577	6, 946, 335	10.8
	Total	16, 508, 219	16, 797, 998	1.8
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry