Taipei, May 4, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.966 billion worth of machinery products in the first two months of this year, up 35.1% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of total exports, the category of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$524.04 million in the first two months of this year, up 68.2% from a year earlier. Plastics and rubber processing machinery came second with US$221.09 million, up 62.2%, and special-purpose machinery ranked third with US$180.99 million, jumping 42.9%. The category of bearings, gears and ball screws took the fourth place with US$179.75 million, up 60%. The fifth rank went to the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$156.972 million, up 29.7%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were valves and parts, machine-tool parts and components, papermaking and printing machinery, textile machinery, woodworking machinery, molds and dies, sewing machines, leather and shoes making machines, as well as food and packaging machinery.

In regard to major export outlets, China ranked first by absorbing US$1.092 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first two months of this year, up a whopping 70.6% year-on-year and accounting for 34% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$417.71 million, down 2% and commanding 14.1%. The third place went to Japan with US$171.58 million, up 30.6% and accounting for 5.8%.

Other major export destinations, in descending order, were India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Singapore, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, the Philippines, Italy, Canada, Australia and Russia.

The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$4.554 billion worth of machinery in the first two months of this year, up 44.8% year-on-year and indicating domestic investment willingness has recovered.

The largest import item was the machinery for ICs and semiconductors with import value reaching US$2.237 billion in the first two months of this year, up 56.3% year-on-year and accounting for 49.1% of the total imports. The second place went to special-purpose machinery with US$240.628 million, down 1.5% and accounting for 5.3%. The category of pumps, compressors and fans ranked third with US$190.295 million, up 10.9% and accounting for 4.2%.

Other major import items, in descending order, were engines and parts, quipment for the treatment of materials, machinery components and parts, machine tools, glassware-making machinery, valves and parts, air conditioning and refrigerators, textile machinery, as well as plastics and rubber machinery.

In terms of import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$1.697 billion wroth of machinery to Taiwan in the first two months of this year, up 39.1% year-on-year and accounting for 37.3% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$1.003 billion, up 36.4% and commanding 22%. The third place went to Germany with US$343.06 million, up 51.3% and accounting for 7.5%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were China and Hong Kong together, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery by Product Category, Jan.-Feb. 2011 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	Jan. 2010	Jan. 2011	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	311,601	524,040	68.2
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	136,300	221,094	62.2
3	Special-purpose Machinery	126,683	180,997	42.9
4	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	112,323	179,752	60
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	126,266	166,804	32.1
6	Valves & Parts	121,067	156,972	29.7
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	86,950	141,975	63.3
8	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	80,374	130,618	62.5
9	Textile Machinery	74,441	112,230	50.8
10	Woodworking Machinery	72,481	89,072	22.9
11	Molds & Dies	75,243	86,130	14.5
12	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	60,664	79,649	31.3
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	59,244	63,519	7.2
	Others	751,077	833,179	10.9
	Total	2,194,714	2,966,031	35.1
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan by Product Category, Jan.-Feb. 2011 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Produce Category	Jan.-Feb. 2010	Jan.-Feb. 2011	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	1,431,846	2,237,449	56.3
2	Special-purpose Machinery	244,218	240,628	-1.5
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	171,607	190,295	10.9
4	Engines & Parts	116,235	169,994	46.3
5	Equipment for Materials Treatment	87,735	152,809	74.2
6	Components and Parts	100,161	140,720	40.5
7	Machine Tools	76,836	135,151	75.9
8	Glassware-making Machinery	51,441	112,629	118.9
9	Valves & Parts	76,930	111,906	45.5
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	58,697	82,400	40.4
11	Textile Machinery	42,173	63,062	49.5
12	Handling Equipment	70,636	49,525	-29.9
13	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	29,857	41,262	38.2
	Others	586,083	826,322	41
	Total	3,144,455	4,554,152	44.8
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

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