Taiwan Machinery Exports Jump 28.3% in First Nine Months

Taipei, Dec. 12, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$15.88 billion of machinery in the first nine months, up 28.3% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Machine tools led with export value hitting US$2.946 billion in the first nine months, up 40.5% year-on-year. The second place went to plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$1.009 billion, up 18%. Special-purpose machines stood at third with US$1 billion, up 22.3%.

China and Hong Kong led as the biggest export outlet by absorbing US$5.505 billion of Taiwan-made machinery in the first nine months, up 30.8% from a year earlier and accounting for 34.7% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$2.242 billion, up 24.1% and commanding 14.1%. Japan occupied third place with US$890.44 million, up 36.2% and accounting for 5.6%.

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

The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$19.998 billion of machinery in the first nine months, up 2.3% year-on-year.

Machinery for integrated circuits and semiconductors were the leading imports. The second-largest import was special-purpose machines. The third place went to the category of pumps, compressors and fans.

TAMI president C.C. Wang says Taiwan heavily relied on Japan, the U.S., China and Germany for imported machinery. Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$7.116 billion of machinery to Taiwan in the first nine months, down 9.1% year-on-year and accounting for 35.6% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$3.735 billion, down 12.6% and commanding 18.7%. China and Hong Kong together ranked third with US$1.966 billion, up 14% and accounting for4 9.8%.

Other major suppliers, in descending order, were Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Britain and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery byCategory, Jan.-Sept. 2011 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Sept. 2010	Jan.-Sept. 2011	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,097,332	2,946,084	40.5
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	855,598	1,009,537	18
3	Special-purpose Machinery	818,022	1,000,847	22.3
4	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	654,988	987,366	50.7
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	715,198	891,956	24.7
6	Valves & Parts	674,518	846,549	25.5
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	552.221	766,380	38.8
8	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	554,924	684,223	23.3
9	Textile Machinery	422,149	469,648	11.3
10	Woodworking Machinery	424,878	415,171	-2.3
11	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	368,740	406,141	10.1
12	Molds & Dies	332,175	382,411	15.1
13	Food & Packaging Machinery	302,156	349,935	15.8
	Others	3,608,341	4,732,638	31.2
	Total	12,381,240	15,888,880	28.3
Source: TaiwanAssociation of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan by Category, Jan.-Sept. 2011 Unit: US$ million
Rank	Produce Category	Jan.-Sept. 2010	Jan.-Sept. 2011	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	9,534,811	8,678,227	-9
2	Special-purpose Machinery	1,668,904	1,066,849	-36.1
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	887,140	1,063,571	19.9
4	Engines & Parts	651,709	814,993	25.1
5	Components and Parts	566,370	785,000	38.6
6	Equipment for Materials Treatment	622,450	649,669	4.4
7	Machine Tools	506,437	629,656	24.3
8	Valves & Parts	457,494	605,322	32.3
9	Glassware-making Machinery	362,461	534,498	47.5
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	349,990	424,261	21.2
11	Textile Machinery	239,322	353,017	47.5
12	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	216,949	315,043	45.2
13	Handling Equipment	456,960	290,149	-36.5
	Others	3,024,222	3,788,160	25.3
	Total	19,545,219	19,998,415	2.3
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry