Taiwan Machine-tool Industry Garners 69.9% YoY Growth in 2010 Exports

Taipei, March 11, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.961 billion worth of machine tools in 2010, representing a 69.9% year-on-year growth, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of the total exports, those of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$2.331 billion, up 76.1% and metal-forming machine tools US$630.33 million, up 50.4%.

In terms of specific items, machining centers saw exports grow 98.4% year-on-year in 2010; lathes, up 41.7%; grinding machines, up 102.3%; and drilling, boring and milling machines, up 81.1%.

China and Hong Kong together was the largest export outlet by absorbing US$1.361 billion worth of machine tools in 2010, up 109.1% from 2009 and accounting for 46% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$162.69 million, up 30.3% and commanding 5.5%. India ranked third with US$137.05 million, up 130.5% and accounting for 4.6%.

Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Germany, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy and Singapore.

The TMTF's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$703.61 million worth of machine tools in 2010, up 106.5% year-on-year. Imports of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$572.36 million, up 110% year-on-year and those of metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$131.25 million, up 92.3%.

Japan was the largest import source by selling US$419.04 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in 2010, up 150.7% year-on-year and accounting for 59.6% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$61.53 million, up 32.4% and commanding 8.7%. Switzerland ranked third with US$46.97 million, up 138.1% and accounting for 6.7%.

TMTF chief executive C.C. Wang noted domestic machine-tool manufacturers are now busy with filling orders for shipments in the second quarter of this year as the first-quarter orders have already fully occupied their production capacities. Despite the influx of orders, Wang called for domestic machine-tool manufacturers to raise their rapid-response and fast-delivery ability to meet the fast-changing external operating climate because most of the orders are rush ones.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	2009	2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	77,380	145,886	88.5
Machining Centers	473,453	939,276	98.4
Lathes	389,332	551,516	41.7
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	197,443	357,596	81.1
Grinding Machines	87,866	177,785	102.3
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	98,646	159,225	61.4
Presses and Shearing Machines	319,736	484,385	51.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	99,425	145,947	46.8
Total	1,743,281	2,961,616	69.9
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in 2010 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	2009	2010	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	104,916	256,982	144.9
Machining Centers	25,314	51,667	104.1
Lathes	41,071	91,503	122.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	17,856	32,693	83.1
Grinding Machines	54,160	76,180	40.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	29,228	63,342	116.7
Presses and Shearing Machines	59,017	115,649	96
Other Metal-forming Machines	9,243	15,602	68.8
Total	340,805	703,618	106.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation