Taiwan Machine-tool Industry's Exports Grow 45% in First Five Months

Taipei, Aug. 3, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.029 billion of machine tools in the first five months, up 45% year-on-year from US$710 million, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$789.67 million, up 47.2% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$239.48 million, up 38%.

Exports of machining centers grew 69.3% year-on-year in the first five months, lathes jumped 7.3%; grinding machines up 78.9%; drilling, boring and milling machines up 58.5%; presses and shearing machines up 31.3%; and other metal-forming machines up 65.7%.

China and Hong Kong together was the largest export outlet by absorbing US$482.73 million of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first five months, up 108% from a year earlier and accounting for a whopping 46.9% of the total exports. The U.S. was second at US$44.4 million, down 34.3% and commanding 4.3%. India was third with US$43.81 million, up 107% and accounting for 4.3%.

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

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$215.18 million of machine tools in the first five months, up 64.8% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$176.47 million, up 70.6% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$38.71 million, up 42.9%.

Japan was the largest supplier by selling US$129.71 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first five months, up 130% year-on-year and accounting for 60.3% of the total imports. Germany was second at US$19.91 million, down 15.3% and commanding 9.3%. China and Hong Kong together were third with US$12.9 million, up 40.8% and commanding 6%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-May 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2009	Jan.-May 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	25,161	48,000	90.8
Machining Centers	181,467	307,300	69.3
Lathes	179,216	192,378	7.3
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	77,927	123,482	58.5
Grinding Machines	31,142	55,713	78.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	41,579	62,802	51
Presses and Shearing Machines	139,697	183,462	31.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	33,811	56,021	65.7
Total	710,000	1,029,158	45
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan in Jan.-May 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2009	Jan.-May 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	34,043	80,570	136.7
Machining Centers	12,750	18,185	42.6
Lathes	13,115	31,404	139.5
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	7,133	14,320	100.8
Grinding Machines	24,579	17,977	-26.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	11,837	14,014	18.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	22,928	32,796	43
Other Metal-forming Machines	4,173	5,922	41.9
Total	130,558	215,188	64.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation