Taiwan's Exports of Machine-tools Hit US$710 M. Jan.-May

Taipei, July 30, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$710 million of machine tools in the first five months of this year, down 54.8% year-on-year, according to the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$536.49 million in the first five months, down 57.3% year-on-year, that of metal-forming machine tools reached US$173.5 million, down 44.9%.

Regarding specific items, the machining centers saw an annualized decline of 64.7% in exports, lathes (-50.1%), grinding machines (-62.7%), drilling, boring and milling machines (-50.8%), shaping, sawing and gearing machines (-43.7%), presses and shearing machines (-44.1%), and other metal-forming machines (-48.1%).

China and Hong Kong were Taiwan's largest export outlet by absorbing US$213.45 million of machine tools in the first five months, down 49.2% year-on-year and accounting for 32.6% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$67.6 million, down 50.2% and commanding 9.5%. The third place went to Germany with US$42.7 million, down 52.6% and accounting for 5.9%.

The TMTF's tallies also showed that Taiwan imported US$130.55 million of machine tools in the first five months, down 84.6% year-on-year. Of this, imports of metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$103.45 million, down 87.2%. That for metal-forming machines amounted to US$27.1 million, down 34.4%.

Japan was Taiwan's largest supplier at US$56.39 million of machine tools in the first five months, down 89.5% year-on-year and accounting for 43.2% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$23.5 million, up 24.7% and commanding 18%. Italy stood at the third place with US$9.33 million, up 23.6% and commanding 7.1%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-May 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2008	Jan.-May 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	66,439	25,161	-62.1
Machining Centers	514,102	181,470	-64.7
Lathes	359,146	179,216	-50.1
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	158,310	77,927	-50.8
Grinding Machines	83,430	31,142	-62.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	73,821	41,579	-43.7
Presses and Shearing Machines	249,787	139,697	-44.1
Other Metal-forming Machines	65,093	33,811	-48.1
Total	1,570,128	710,003	-54.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan (Jan.-May 2009) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2008	Jan.-May 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	676,259	34,043	-95
Machining Centers	20,888	12,750	-39
Lathes	37,561	13,115	-65
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	20,645	7,133	-65.4
Grinding Machines	39,595	24,579	-37.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	13,863	11,837	-14.6
Presses and Shearing Machines	37,022	22,928	-38.1
Other Metal-forming Machines	4,316	4,173	-3.3
Total	850,149	130,558	-84.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation