Taiwan's machinery exports gained 9.7% in first five months

Taipei, July 29, 2005 (CENS)--Taiwan's machinery exports amounted to US$5.375 billion in the first five months of this year, representing an annual growth of 9.7%, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of major machinery products, machine tools ranked first with exports of US$1.058 billion, up 26% annually. Plastics and rubber machinery followed with US$390.03 million, up 5% year-on-year; and pumps, compressors and fans with US$378.11 million, down 1%. The fourth place went to special-purpose machines with US$298.04 million, down 1%. Valves and parts ranked fifth with US$290.48 million, up 4%. Woodworking machines stood at the sixth place with US$281.22 million, up a mere 0.1%.

Other major exported items in the same period, in descending order, were molds and dies, textile machinery; sewing machines; bearings, gears and ball screws; paper-making and printing machines; and leather and shoe-making machines.

Hong Kong and mainland China together were the largest export outlet by absorbing US$1.833 billion worth of domestically made machinery, up 2% year-on-year and accounting for 34.1% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$944.11 million, up 8% and commanding 17.6%. Japan stood at third place with US$310.27 million, up 18% and accounting for 5.8%. Thailand came fourth with US$207.83 million, down 8%. Vietnam ranked fifth with US$185.12 million, up 17%. Indonesia ranked sixth with US$143.52 million, up 46%.

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

The TAMI tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$8.561 billion worth of machinery in the first five months of this year, up 30.8% year-on-year. In terms of specific items, special-purpose machines ranked first with import value amounting to US$3.161 billion, up 53% year-on-year and accounting for 36.9% of the total imports. TAMI said the imported special-purpose machines were mainly employed by semiconductor and 3C (communications, computers and consumer electronics) industries.

The second place went to machine tools with US$649.59 million, down 13% annually and accounting for 7.6%. Pumps, compressors and fans ranked third with US$477.37 million, up 28% and commanding 5.6%. Engines and parts ranked fourth with US$416.12 million, up 51% and accounting for 4.9%. Valves stood at the fifth place with US$216.07 million, up 14% and accounting for 2.5%. Other major import items, in descending order, were textile machines, and plastics and rubber machines.

Japan was the largest import source supplying US$4.921 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan in the first five months, up 42% annually and accounting for 57.5% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$1.536 billion, up 9% and commanding 17.9%. Germany ranked third with US$514.89 million, up 19% and accounting for 6%.

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 Jan.-May 2005 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Products	Jan.-May 2004	Jan.-May 2005	Annual Change
1	Machine Tools	836,793	1,058,003	26%
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	369,842	390,032	5%
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	380,818	378,112	-1%
4	Special-purpose Machines	301,306	298,045	-1%
5	Valves & Parts	278,047	290,480	4%
6	Woodworking Machinery	280,887	281,223	0%
7	Molds & Dies	28,404	239,179	5%
8	Textile Machinery	230,620	225,719	-2%
9	Sewing Machines	210,406	213,824	2%
10	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	170,215	201,777	19%
11	Paper-making, Printing Machinery	78,018	93,234	20%
12	Leather & Shoe-making Machinery	50,894	48,697	-4%
	Others	1,485,792	1,657,000	12%
	Total	4,902,042	5,375,325	9.7%
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry