Taiwan's Machine-tool Export Up 11% in January

Taipei, April 16, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan exported NT$331.11 million of machine tools in January, up 11% from a year earlier (YoY), according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$280.4 million, up 19.6% year-on-year and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$50.73 million, down 20.5%.

China and Hong Kong together led as export destination by absorbing US$83.84 million of Taiwan-made machine tools in January, down 26.7% YoY and accounting for 25.3% of the total exports, followed by the U.S. with US$38.81 million, up 86% and commanding 11.7%, and then Thailand with US$23.79 million, up 80.5% and accounting for 7.2%.

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

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$49.55 million of machine tools in January, down 15% YoY, of which metal-cutting machine tools came to US$40.9 million, down 21.6% year-on-year and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$8.64 million, up 41.3%. (See table below)

Japan led as import supplier by selling US$28.01 million of products to Taiwan in January, down 23.2% YoY and accounting for 56.5% of the total imports, followed by Germany with US$6.11 million, up 86.2% and commanding 12.3%, then China and Hong Kong with US$5.21 million, up 39.4% and commanding 10.5%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan. 2012 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan. 2011	Jan. 2012	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	16,448	13,953	-15.2
Machining Centers	96,656	114,072	18
Lathes	57,142	77,398	35.4
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	33,153	32,926	-0.7
Grinding Machines	17,674	23,163	31.1
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	13,363	18,896	41.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	43,409	38,959	-10.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	20,397	11,773	-42.3
Total	298,242	331,140	11
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Machine Tool Imported into Taiwan in Jan. 2012 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan. 2011	Jan. 2012	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	18,804	23,929	27.3
Machining Centers	10,698	3,667	-65.7
Lathes	7,596	4,122	-45.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	611	1,635	167.6
Grinding Machines	8,890	6,146	-30.9
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	5,566	1,409	-74.7
Presses and Shearing Machines	4,904	7,457	52.1
Other Metal-forming Machines	1,214	1,185	-2.4
Total	58,283	49,550	-15
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation