Taipei, Feb. 8, 2010 (CENS)--The market share of Taiwan-made products in China fell to a record low of 8.5% in 2009, and that of South Korea-made products went up to 10.2%, according to the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

BOFT indicated that due to adverse impact of the global financial tsunami, Taiwan`s exports to China tumbled by 21.1% in the first 11 months of 2009, much higher than the corresponding decline of 10.5% recorded by South Korea and 15.7% by Japan, although Taiwan witnessed a surplus of US$33.9 billion in trade with China during the period.

BOFT, citing the statistics compiled by mainland Chinese customs, said that Taiwan`s products commanded a 12.9% share of China`s import market in 2002 and the percentage shrank sharply to 8.5% in 2009, the lowest of its kind ever recorded. In the same period, the corresponding percentage of South Korea went up to 10.2% from 9.7%.

Huang Chih-peng, director general of BOFT, explained that Taiwan`s lagging behind S. Korea in market share in China is due mainly to the fact that Taiwanese enterprises operating in China have increasingly purchased key components from local manufacturers there instead of importing them from Taiwan.

Nevertheless, Huang said, Taiwan-made synthetic fiber and electric machinery & related facilities still command the largest share of China`s import market.

(by Judy Li)