Taiwan's Machinery Exports Surge 31.5% in First Seven Months

Taipei, Oct. 4, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$12.3 billion of machinery in the first seven months, up 31.5% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Machine tools ranked first with export totaling US$2.263 billion in the first seven months, up 46.1% year-on-year, with second place being plastics and rubber processing machinery at US$796.67 million, up 23.8%, and special-purpose machinery being third at US$774.74 million, up 25.3%.

China led as the biggest buyer by absorbing US$4.385 billion of Taiwan-made machinery in the first seven months, up 39.5% year-on-year to accounting for 35.7% of the total. The U.S. was second at US$1.693 billion, up 19.8% and commanding 13.8%. Japan was third at US$689.68 million, up 38.5% and accounting for 5.6%.

The TAMI's tallies also show that Taiwan imported US$16.267 billion in machinery in the first seven months, up 12.5% from a year earlier.

Machinery for ICs and semiconductors led as the biggest imports with value totaling US$7.533 billion in the first seven months, up 7.1% year-on-year and accounting for 46.3% of the total. Special-purpose machinery was second at US$845.65 million, down 30.5% and commanding 5.2%. Pumps, compressors and fans was third at US$841.19 million, up 22.6% and accounting for 5.2%.

The TAMI said Taiwan still heavily relied on Japan, the U.S., China and Hong Kong, and Germany for machinery imports in the first seven months. Japan led as the biggest supplier with US$5.768 billion in machinery shipped to Taiwan in the first seven months, down 0.1% year-on-year and commanding 35.5% of the total. The U.S. was second with US$3.138 billion, down 2.6% and accounting for 19.3%. China and Hong Kong together were third with US$1.501 billion, up 12.7% and accounting for 9.2%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery byCategory, Jan.-July 2011 Unit: US$ 1,000
Rank	ProductCategory	Jan.-July2010	Jan.-July2011	AnnualChange (%)
1	Machine Tools	1,549,420	2,263,472	46.1
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	643,359	796,671	23.8
3	Special-purpose Machinery	618,530	774,747	25.3
4	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	491,820	749,488	52.4
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	543,717	697,464	28.3
6	Valves & Parts	509,239	650,172	27.7
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	410,164	595,174	45.1
8	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	412,831	542,010	31.3
9	Textile Machinery	323,293	384,822	19
10	Woodworking Machinery	318,305	327,267	2.8
11	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	275,109	319,194	16
12	Molds & Dies	257,534	300,529	16.7
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	225,575	266,715	18.2
	Others	2,776,320	3,632,555	30.8
	Total	9,355,216	12,300,280	31.5
Source: TaiwanAssociation of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machineryinto Taiwanby Category, Jan.-July 2011 Unit:US$ 1,000
Rank	ProduceCategory	Jan.-July2010	Jan.-July2011	AnnualChange (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	7,036,468	7,533,192	7.1
2	Special-purpose Machinery	1,217,637	845,654	-30.5
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	686,159	841,193	22.6
4	Engines & Parts	481,637	608,287	26.3
5	Components and Parts	427,875	594,176	38.9
6	Equipment for Materials Treatment	354,637	526,691	48.5
7	Machine Tools	327,844	503,540	53.6
8	Valves & Parts	339,637	468,152	37.8
9	Glassware-making Machinery	232,061	374,178	61.2
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	269,598	330,059	22.4
11	Textile Machinery	174,789	273,320	56.4
12	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	165,138	231,455	40.2
13	Handling Equipment	389,181	227,855	-41.5
	Others	2,361,030	2,910,214	23.3
	Total	14,463,691	16,267,966	12.5
Source: TaiwanAssociation of Machinery Industry