Taiwan's Machine Tool Exports Grow 19.8% in Q1

Taipei, June 9, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$532.74 million of machine tools in the first quarter of this year, for an annual growth of 19.8%, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

The export value for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$415.71 million, up 24.5% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$117.02 million, up 5.5%.

China and Hong Kong led as export destination by absorbing US$233.56 million of Taiwan-made machine tools in the first quarter, up 79.2% year-on-year and accounting for 43.8% of the total exports. India was second with US$26.5 million, up 89.6% and commanding 5%. The U.S. was third with US$25.27 million, down 44.8% and commanding 4.7%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand (up 20.3%), Brazil (up 58.7%), South Korea (up 276%), Turkey (up 78.2%), Malaysia (up 27.7%), Indonesia (up 198%), Vietnam (up 29.2%), Germany (up 64.4%), the Netherlands (down 47.4%), Japan (down 33.7%), Italy (down 45.9%), and Australia (up 38.7%).

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$119.41 million of machine tools in the first quarter, up 47.1% year-on-year. The import value for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$101.67 million, jumping 58.9% and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$17.74 million, up 3.2%.

Japan led as supplier by selling US$69.46 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first quarter, up 138% from a year earlier and accounting for 58.2% of the total imports. Germany was second at US$13.16 million, down 35.6% and commanding 11%. The U.S. was third at US$8.34 million, up 32.9% and accounting for 7%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Q1, 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Q1, 2009	Q1, 2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	13,539	26,991	99.4
Machining Centers	112,634	161,433	43.3
Lathes	113,262	99,765	-11.9
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	48,124	62,948	30.8
Grinding Machines	18,339	30,938	68.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	28,035	33,640	20
Presses and Shearing Machines	88,287	88,019	-0.3
Other Metal-forming Machines	22,639	29,009	28.1
Total	444,859	532,743	19.8
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation