Taiwan's Machine-tool Exports Grow 36.9% in First 11 Months of 2011

Taipei, Feb. 13, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$3.648 billion of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2011, up 36.9% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF). Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$2.991 billion, up 42.7% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$656.74 million, up 15.2%.

Exports of machining centers grew 51.6%, lathes surged 52%, grinding machines up 45%; drilling, boring and milling machines, up 12.2%; presses and shearing machines, up 16.6%; other metal-forming machines, up 10.8%.

China and Hong Kong together was the largest export outlet by absorbing US$1.428 billion of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2011, up 15.1% year-on-year and accounting for 39.1% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$310.28 million, up 118.3% and commanding 8.5%. Turkey stood at third with US$180.72 million, up 77.6% and commanding 5%. Other major export destinations, in descending order, were Thailand, Germany, India, Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, United Kingdom and Russia.

The TMTF's tallies also show that Taiwan imported US$766.13 million of machine tools in the first 11 months of 2011, up 17.4% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$665.28 million, up 25.2% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$10.08 million, down 16.6%.

Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$471.48 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first 11 months of 2011, up 21.3% year-on-year and accounting for 61.5% of the total imports. Switzerland stood at second with US$66.15 million, up 59.4% and commanding 8.6%. The third place went to Germany with US$64.44 million, up 9.8% and accounting for 8.4%.

TMTF CEO C.C. Wang says the major problems facing the domestic machine-tool industry include the volatility of the prices of cast iron, the supply of key components and parts, the appreciation of local currency against the U.S. greenback, and the free trade agreements (FTAs) materialized between South Korea and European Union and between South Korea and the U.S.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-Nov., 2011 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2010	Jan.-Nov. 2011	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	127,731	173,898	36.1
Machining Centers	839,692	1,272,696	51.6
Lathes	498,680	757,993	52
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	325,907	365,812	12.2
Grinding Machines	158,859	230,322	45
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	145,270	190,975	31.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	435,508	507,891	16.6
Other Metal-forming Machines	134,348	148,853	10.8
Total	2,665,995	3,648,440	36.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan in Jan.-Nov. 2011 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-Nov. 2010	Jan.-Nov. 2011	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	238,238	300,331	26.1
Machining Centers	47,444	86,391	82.1
Lathes	85,122	89,746	5.4
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	28,248	25,245	-10.6
Grinding Machines	71,805	88,568	23.3
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	60,726	75,004	23.5
Presses and Shearing Machines	106,818	78,228	-26.8
Other Metal-forming Machines	14,148	22,622	59.9
Total	652,549	766,135	17.4
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation