Taiwan Saw Machine-tool Exports Rise 5.9% in 2008

Taipei, March 17, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$3.721 billion of machine tools in 2008, a 5.9% year-on-year growth, according to the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Exports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$2.964 billion in 2008, up 7.4% from the previous year; that of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$756.57 million, up a mere 0.5%.

In respect of export outlets, mainland China and Hong Kong together ranked first by absorbing US$1.114 billion worth of Taiwan-made machine tools in 2008, down 14.2% year-on-year and accounting for 30% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$338.6 million, down 0.9% and commanding 9.1%. Germany ranked third with US$224.09 million, up a whopping 45.2% and accounting for 6%.

The TMTF's tallies also showed that Taiwan imported US$1.535 billion of machine tools in 2008, down 39.9%.

TMTF chief executive C.C. Wang said the demand for imported machines were still driven by domestic precision parts and metal products sectors, with the demand for imported machines by high-tech industries as semiconductors, information technology, electronics, communications and optoelectronics being on the wane.

The TMTF said Japan was the island's largest import supplier by selling US$931.4 million of machine tools to Taiwan in 2008, down 20% year-on-year and accounting for 60.6% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$299.73 million, down 69.8% and accounting for 19.5%. The third place went to Germany with US$101.97 million, up a whopping 43.5% and commanding 6.6%.

Wang said the domestic machine-tool industry has seen nose-diving exports since the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	2007	2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	149,337	154,420	3.4
Machining Centers	1,158,678	1,203,647	3.9
Lathes	699,343	856,806	22.5
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	365,818	369,800	1.1
Grinding Machines	200,978	192,800	-4.1
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	186,705	187,455	0.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	617,731	606,997	-1.7
Other Metal-forming Machines	135,239	149,578	10.6
Total	3,513,829	3,721,503	5.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan in 2008 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	2007	2008	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	2,151,885	1,111,447	-48.4
Machining Centers	51,016	58,948	15.5
Lathes	94,024	80,704	-14.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	41,675	40,759	-2.2
Grinding Machines	86,332	93,308	8.1
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	35,376	42,599	20.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	77,722	91,655	17.9
Other Metal-forming Machines	19,335	16,315	-15.6
Total	2,557,365	1,535,735	-39.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation