Taiwan's machinery exports up 23.3% in first eight months

Taipei, Nov. 1, 2004 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$8.097 billion worth of machinery in the first eight months this year, up 23.3% over a year earlier, according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of this, machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$1.413 billion during the period, up 36% year-on-year. The second place went to plastic and rubber processing machines, which recorded export value of US$616 million, up 28% annually. Compressors, pumps, and fans ranked third with US$610 million, up 21%. Special-purpose machines stood at fourth place with US$590 million, up 54% annually. The fifth ranking went to valves which chalked up US$455 million, up 21%. Woodworking machines followed with US$453 million, up 19%.

Other major export items, in descending order, included molds and dies with US$383 million, up 9%; textile machines with US$365 million, up 6%; sewing machines with US$341 million, up 9%; bearings, gears and ball screws with US$280 million, up 19%; paper making and printing machines with US$133 million, up 3%; leather and shoe making machines with US$720 million, down 13%.

Hong Kong/mainland China was the largest export outlet of Taiwan-made machinery, absorbing US$2.99 billion worth of the product during the period, up 20% year-on-year and accounting for 37% of the total. The U.S. stood at second place with US$1.426 billion, up 28% annually and commanding a share of 17.6%. The third place went to Japan which absorbed US$420 million worth of the product, up 10% annually and accounting for 5.3% of the total.

TAMI vice president Wang Cheng-ching said Taiwan's machinery exports to the Asian region has seen substantial growth in the first eight months. Thailand was the fourth largest export outlet of domestically made machines, taking US$357 million worth of the product in the first eight months, up 32% over a year earlier. The fifth ranking went to Vietnam which took US$250 million, up 5%. Malaysia ranked six with US$218 million, up 26%.

Other major export outlets, in descending orders, were Indonesia, Turkey, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Britain, Singapore, India, Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Spain, France, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

According to customs statistics, Taiwan imported US$11.112 billion worth of machinery in the first eight months, an increase of 52% over a year earlier. Of this, special-purpose machines ranked first with import value of US$3.58 billion, up 46% annually and accounting for 32.2% of the total. Machine tools ranked second with US$1.236 billion, up 171% and commanding a share of 11.1%. Compressors, fans and pumps stood at third place with US$642 million, up 39% and accounting for 5.8% of the total. Plastic and rubber processing machines ranked fourth with US$440 million, up 55% annually and accounting for 4% of the total. Engines and components ranked fifth with US$422 million, up 33% and accounting for 3.8% of the total. Valves ranked sixth with US$317 million, up 44% and accounting for 2.9%. Textile machines ranked seventh with US$224 million, up 4% and commanding 2%.

TAMI vice president Wang Cheng-ching said machines imported to Taiwan in the first eight months were mainly used by the industries of optoelectronics, communications, information technology and semiconductors.

Wang said the imported machines came mainly from Japan and the U.S. Japan was the largest source of the imported machines, selling US$5.86 billion worth of machinery to the island, up 47% annually and commanding a share of 52.7%. The U.S. followed with US$2.36 billion, up 97% and accounting for 21.2%. Germany ranked third with US$763 million, up 38% and accounting for 6.9% of the total. The fourth place went to mainland China which sold US$560 million, up 72% and commanding 5.1% of the total imports.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Britain, and France.