Taiwan Enjoys 25.2% Surge in Machinery Exports in January

Taipei, April 12, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.187 billion of machinery in January this year, for a 25.2% year-on-year growth for two consecutive months, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

The category of machine tools ranked first with exports valued at US$177.89 million in January, up 15.2% year-on-year. The category of plastics and rubber processing machines was second at US$77.15 million, up 41%. The category of special-purpose machines was third at US$74.41 million, up 61.6%. (See table below)

China led as buyer by absorbing US$380.34 million of Taiwan-made machinery in January, up 192% year-on-year and accounting for 32% of the total exports. The USA was second at US$164.37 million, down 29.4% and commanding 13.8%. Japan was third with US$66.43 million, up 28.6% and accounting for 5.6%.

The TAMI's tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$1.636 billion of machinery in January, up 87.4% year-on-year. TAMI president C.C. Wang noted Taiwan's machinery import had slumped since November 2008 before improving in October 2009, adding that import growth over the past four months reflect rising investment willingness in Taiwan.

The category of machinery for ICs and semiconductors ranked first with import value of US$716.23 million in January, up a whopping 414% year-on-year and accounting for 43.8% of the total imports. Special-purpose machinery was second with US$129.19 million, down 25.3% and commanding 7.9%. Pumps, compressors and fans was third with US$85.16 million, up 77.6% and commanding 5.2%. (See table below)

Wang noted Taiwan still heavily relied on imported machinery from Japan, the U.S., China and Germany in January this year. The TAMI's tallies showed Japan led as supplier by selling US$613.2 million of machinery to Taiwan in January, up 42.2% year-on-year and accounting for 37.5% of the total imports. The USA was second with US$367.15 million, up 187% and commanding 22.4%. China was third with US$164.14 million, up 87.5% and accounting for 10%. Other major suppliers, in descending order, were Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery by Category, Jan. 2010 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	January 2009	January 2010	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	154.452	177,899	15.2
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	54,707	77,154	41
3	Special-purpose Machinery	46,041	74,419	61.6
4	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	47,923	71,078	48.3
5	Valves & Parts	61,679	65,864	6.8
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	38,920	63,221	62.4
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	24,793	51,724	108.6
8	Textile Machinery	22,547	45,602	102.3
9	Woodworking Machinery	27,063	40,402	49.3
10	Molds & Dies	35,036	37,671	7.4
11	Food & Packaging Machinery	24,437	35,671	46
12	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	18,874	27,162	43.9
13	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	15,580	14,712	-5.6
	Others	376,989	405,394	7.5
	Total	949,041	1,187,921	25.2
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan by Category, Jan. 2010 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Produce Category	January 2009	January 2010	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	139,184	716,239	414.6
2	Special-purpose Machinery	173,069	129,198	-25.3
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	47,963	85,161	77.6
4	Engines & Parts	69,046	58,794	-14.8
5	Equipment for Materials Treatment	73,043	51,993	28.8
6	Components and Parts	36,881	51,692	40.2
7	Machine Tools	21,751	43,828	101.5
8	Valves & Parts	27,567	42,052	52.5
9	Handling Equipment	23,579	37,475	58.9
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	25,637	36,361	41.8
11	Textile Machinery	9,540	28,150	195.1
12	Glassware-making Machinery	18,588	20,237	8.9
13	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	16,153	19,319	19.6
	Others	191,133	315,684	65.2
	Total	873,134	1,636,183	87.4
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry