Taiwan's machinery exports surged 9% in first half of 2005

Taipei, Sept. 5, 2005 (CENS)--Exports of Taiwan-made machinery amounted to US$6.489 billion in the first half of this year, up 9% from US$5.961 billion registered in the corresponding period of last year, according to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of the major export items, machine tools ranked first with export value amounting to US$1.278 billion, up 26% year-on-year. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machines with US$466.71 million, up 3%. Compressors, pumps and fans stood at the third place with US$450.08 million, down 1%. Special-purpose machines ranked fourth with US$367.09 million, down 2%. Valves ranked fifth with US$350.34 million, up 3%.

The sixth-largest export item was woodworking machinery with US$332.33 million, down 2% year-on-year. Other major export categories, in descending order, were molds and dies (US$292.18 million), textile machinery (US$272.48 million), sewing machines (US$255.87 million), bearings, gears, ball screws (US$242.62 million), paper-making and printing machines (US$115.25 million), and leather and shoemaking machines (US$55.28 million).

In terms of export outlets, Hong Kong and mainland China together ranked first by absorbing US$2.213 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first half of this year, up 1% year-on-year and accounting for 34.1% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$1.138 billion, up 8% and accounting for 17.5%. The third place went to Japan with US$376.52 million, representing an annual increase of 20% and commanding 5.8%.

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

The TAMI statistics also showed Taiwan imported US$10.129 billion worth of machinery in the first half of this year, up 26.8% from the corresponding period of last year. In terms of import value, special-purpose machines ranked first with US$3.634 billion, up 46% annually and accounting for 36% of the total imports. These imported precision machines were mainly employed by semiconductor and 3C (consumer electronics, communications, computers) sectors.

The second-largest import item went to machine tools with US$823.74 million, down 8% year-on-year and commanding 8.2% of the total imports. Compressors, pumps and fans ranked third with US$565.2 million, up 21% and accounting for 5.6%. The fourth-largest item went to engines and parts with US$489.9 million, up 45% and commanding 4.8%. Valves stood at the fifth place with US$262.36 million, up 11% and commanding 2.6%.

Other major import categories, in descending orders, were plastics & rubber processing machines, and textile machinery. TAMI vice president Wang Cheng-ching said these imported machines were mainly adopted by optoelectronics, communications, information-technology and semiconductor industries.

Wang noted Taiwan still relied on Japan and the U.S. for the imported precision machines. TAMI's statistics showed Japan was the largest import source by supplying US$5.7746 billion worth of machines to Taiwan in the first half of this year, up a whopping 37% year-on-year and accounting for 56.9% of the total imports. The U.S. ranked second with US$1.82 billion, up 9% and commanding 18%. Germany stood at the third place with US$632.54 million, up 16% and accounting for 6.3%.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were mainland China and Hong Kong together, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Italy, and France.

Exports of Taiwan-Made Machinery in 2005 (Jan.-June) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Products	Jan.-June 2004	Jan.-June 2005	Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	1,018,354	1,278,163	26
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	453,581	466,710	3
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	455,914	450,088	-1
4	Special-Purpose Machines	373,546	367,099	-2
5	Valves & Parts	338,557	350,349	3
6	Woodworking Machines	338,469	332,338	-2
7	Molds & Dies	277,911	292,182	5
8	Textile Machinery	279,985	272,483	-3
9	Sewing Machines	252,758	255,876	1
10	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	207,617	242,624	17
11	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	95,978	115,258	20
12	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	57,010	55,281	-3
	Others	1,811,675	2,010,983	11
	Total	5,961,355	6,489,434	9
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry