Taiwan's Machine-tool Export Surges 53.6% in First Five Months

Taipei, Aug. 8, 2011 (CENS)--Exports for Taiwan's machine-tool industry totaled US$1.581 billion in the first five months of 2011, surging 53.6% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports for metal-cutting machine tools totaled US$1.275 billion in the first five months of 2011, up 61.5% year-on-year and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$305.54 million, up 27.6%.

China and Hong Kong together ranked first by absorbing US$687.14 million in Taiwan-made machine tools in the first five months, up 42.3% from a year earlier and accounting for 43.5% of the total. The U.S. stood at second place with US$105.33 million, up 137.2% and commanding 6.7%. The third place went to Turkey with US$78.34 million, up 132.3% and accounting for 5%.

Other major export destinations, in descending order, were Thailand, India, Brazil, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Japan, United Kingdom, and Russia.

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$357.26 million in machine tools in the first five months, up 66% year-on-year. Imports for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$309.31 million, up 75.3% and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$47.94 million, up 23.8%.

Japan was the largest supplier to Taiwan at US$229.17 million of machine tools in the first five months, up 76.7% year-on-year and accounting for 64.1% of the total imports. The second place went to Switzerland with US$440.26 million, up a whopping 392.5% and accounting for 11.3%. China and Hong Kong together ranked third with US$19.74 million, up 65.9% and commanding 5.5%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools (Jan.-May 2011) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2010	Jan.-May 2011	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	48,000	84,595	76.2
Machining Centers	307,300	526,724	71.4
Lathes	192,378	317,615	65.1
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	123,482	170,986	38.5
Grinding Machines	55,713	95,667	71.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	62,802	79,946	27.3
Presses and Shearing Machines	183,462	233,509	27.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	56,021	72,036	28.6
Total	1,029,158	1,581,078	53.6
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan (Jan.-May 2011) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-May 2010	Jan.-May 2011	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	80,570	127,551	58.3
Machining Centers	18,185	47,742	162.5
Lathes	31,404	40,015	27.4
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	14,320	11,193	-21.8
Grinding Machines	17,977	39,170	117.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	14,014	43,647	211.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	32,796	37,855	15.4
Other Metal-forming Machines	5,922	10,094	70.4
Total	215,188	357,267	66
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation