Taiwan Exports 32.3% Lesser Machinery in First-two Months

Taipei, May 5, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.657 billion worth of machinery in the first two months of 2009, down 32.3% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). The global recession has resulted in the industry seeing export declines for four months in a row since November 2008.

Machine tool was the island's largest export category with export value amounting to US$281.12 million in the first two months of this year, slumping 47.8% from a year earlier. The category of valves and parts ranked second with US$104.197 million, down 21.1%. The third place went to the category of plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$94.635 million, sliding 38.1%. The table below shows lesser categories.

The U.S. was Taiwan's largest export outlet by absorbing US$351.44 million worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first two months of 2009, down 7.4% year-on-year and accounting for 21.2% of the total exports. The second place went to mainland China and Hong Kong together with US$293.02 million, down 55.2% and accounting for 17.7%. Japan ranked third with US$175.2 million, up 18.7% and commanding 10.6%.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$1.859 billion of machinery in the first two months of 2009, down 38.6% from a year earlier.

In terms of major import items, special-purpose machinery ranked first with import value reaching US$270.69 million, down 73.8% year-on-year and accounting for 14.6% of the total import value. The second place went to engines and parts with US$126.07 million, down 10% and accounting for 6.8%. Pumps, compressors and fans ranked third with US$111.16 million, down 31.5% and commanding 6%. Lesser categories of imported machinery are shown in the table below.

Japan was Taiwan's leading supplier selling US$956.55 million of machinery to the island in the first two months, down 28.5% year-on-year and accounting for a whopping 51.4% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$230.26 million, down 67% and accounting for 12.4%. The third place went to Germany with US$176.84 million, down 24.9% and commanding 9.5%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan.-Feb. 2009 by Product Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Jan.-Feb. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	538,335	281,120	-47.8
2	Valves & Parts	132,084	104,197	-21.1
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	152,879	94,635	-38.1
4	Pumps, compressors, Fans	130,733	90,720	-30.6
5	Special-purpose Machinery	184,439	90,024	-51.2
6	Molds & Dies	78,931	66,981	-15.1
7	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	100,341	66,961	-33.3
8	Woodworking Machinery	97,968	47,353	-51.7
9	Machine-tool Parts & Components	102,220	45,493	-55.5
10	Textile Machinery	82,559	39,134	-52.6
11	Sewing Machines	58,429	34,790	-40.5
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	42,461	23,106	-45.6
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	12,933	6,275	-51.5
	Others	734,733	666,865	-9.2
	Total	2,449,045	1,657,654	-32.3
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan in Jan.-Feb. 2009 by Product Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Feb. 2008	Jan.-Feb. 2009	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	1,031,379	270,697	-73.8
2	Engines & Parts	140,036	126,071	-10
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	162,271	111,160	-31.5
4	Valves & Parts	87,583	56,302	-35.7
5	Machine Tools	319,834	53,165	-83.4
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	40,755	29,307	-28.1
7	Textile Machinery	55,419	23,530	-57.5
	Others	1,191,311	1,189,479	-0.2
	Total	3,028,588	1,859,711	-38.6
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry