Taiwan Exports US$758.76 M. Machine Tools in First Four Months, up 29.5%

Taipei, July 7, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$758.76 million of machine tools in the first four months of 2010, for a 29.5% year-on-year growth, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of EDMs (electric discharge machines) and laser-cutting machines reached US$36.54 million in the first four months, up 92.1% from a year earlier; machining centers (US$223.928 million, up 49.9%); and lathes (US$148.748 million, down 2.8%). (See table below)

China and Hong Kong led as the biggest buyers by absorbing US$346.36 million of machine tools from Taiwan in the first four months, up 89.8% year-on-year and accounting for 45.6% of total exports. The U.S. was second at US$34.13 million, down 40.4% and commanding a mere 4.5%. Thailand was third at US$33.54 million, up 35.9% and accounting for 4.4%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were India, Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy and Australia.

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$166 million of machine tools in the first four months, up 52.7% from a year earlier, of which metal-cutting machine tools totaled US$140.19 million, up 62.1% year-on-year and that for metal-forming machine tools reached US$25.8 million, up 16%. (See table below)

Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$102.08 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first four months, up 140% year-on-year and accounting for 61.5% of total imports. Germany was second with US$14.37 million, down 32.3% and commanding 8.7%. The U.S. was third with US$9.87 million, up 48.8% and accounting for 6%.

TMTF CEO C.C. Wang said Taiwan's machine-tool sector began recovering in the first quarter after 13 months of decline following the global meltdown, with most leading machine-tool manufacturers working overtime to fill orders.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-April 2010) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-April 2009	Jan.-April 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	19,025	36,540	92.1
Machining Centers	149,376	223,928	49.9
Lathes	153,060	148,748	-2.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	63,215	88,507	40
Grinding Machines	24,880	43,044	73
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	34,933	45,749	31
Presses and Shearing Machines	112,905	132,393	17.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	28,502	39,859	39.8
Total	585,896	758,768	29.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan (Jan.-April 2010) Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-April 2009	Jan.-April 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	30,683	65,212	112.5
Machining Centers	11,478	11,718	2.1
Lathes	10,377	24,351	134.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	5,876	11,578	97
Grinding Machines	21,177	14,079	-33.5
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	6,878	13,260	92.8
Presses and Shearing Machines	18,254	24,368	33.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	3,987	1,434	-64
Total	108,710	166,000	52.7
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation