Taiwan's Machinery Sales Grow 22.6% Year-on-Year in 2011
2012/04/05 | By Ben ShenTaiwan exported US$21.11 billion of machinery in 2011, up 22.6% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). Despite double-digit growth in exports, many machinery manufacturers worry about losing ground to Korean counterparts in the wake of the implementation of the FTAs (free trade agreements) between South Korea and European Union and the U.S., as well as the rising NT-dollar against the greenback that undermine exporters' competitiveness.
The category of machine tools led in export with value reaching US$4 billion, up 35.1% year-on-year; followed by plastic and rubber processing machinery at US$1.339 billion, up 14.4%; then bearings, gears and ball screws at US$1.33 billion, up 43.7%. (See table below)
China and Hong Kong were the largest export outlet by absorbing US$7.151 billion of Taiwan-made machinery in 2011, up 21.1% year-on-year and accounting for 33.9% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$3.002 billion, up 21.6% and commanding 14.2%. Japan ranked third with US$1.203 billion, up 33.7% and accounting for 5.7%. (See table below)
The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$25.46 billion of machinery in 2011, down 5.9% year-on-year.
Machinery for ICs and semiconductors led in imports with value reaching US$10.748 billion in 2011, down 18.5% and accounting for 42.2% of the total imports; followed by pumps, fans and compressors at US$1.37 billion, up 14% and commanding 5.4%; then special-purpose machinery at US$1.337 billion, down 40.1% and accounting for 5.3%. (See table below)
Japan was the island's largest supplier by selling US$9.248 billion of machinery to Taiwan in 2011, down 14% year-on-year and accounting for 36.3% of the total imports; followed by the U.S. at US$4.617 billion, down 20.8% and commanding 18.1%; then China and Hong Kong at US$2.629 billion, up 12.9% and accounting for 10.3%.
TAMI president C.C. Wang notes Taiwan's machinery manufacturers have improved competitiveness globally due to supply of high-quality products with high performance-to-price ratio; while the cross-Taiwan Strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) qualify over 100 Taiwan-made machines for low duties when sold to China.
Based on the projection that Taiwan's overall economy will grow 3.8%, the TAMI forecasts Taiwan's machinery industry to achieve export growth of 8% to 10% to reach US$23 billion in 2012.
Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery by Category in 2011Unit: US$ million | ||||
Rank | Product Category | 2010 | 2011 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | Machine Tools | 2,961 | 4,000 | 35.1 |
2 | Plastics & Rubber Machinery | 1,170 | 1,339 | 14.4 |
3 | Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws | 927 | 1,333 | 43.7 |
4 | Special-purpose Machinery | 1,121 | 1,308 | 16.7 |
5 | Pumps, Compressors, Fans | 964 | 1,166 | 20.9 |
6 | Valves & Parts | 925 | 1,131 | 22.2 |
7 | Machine-tool Parts & Components | 784 | 1,004 | 28 |
8 | Paper Making, Printing Machinery | 790 | 921 | 16.6 |
9 | Textile Machinery | 580 | 615 | 6 |
10 | Woodworking Machinery | 562 | 540 | -3.9 |
11 | Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines | 494 | 521 | 5.4 |
12 | Molds & Dies | 459 | 520 | 13.3 |
13 | Food & Packaging Machinery | 419 | 471 | 12.3 |
| Others | 5,049 | 6,236 | 23.5 |
| Total | 17,212 | 21,110 | 22.6 |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |
Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in 2011 by Destination | ||||
Rank | Nations | 2010 | 2011 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | China + Hong Kong | 5,904 | 7,151 | 21.1 |
2 | United States | 2,468 | 3,002 | 21.6 |
3 | Japan | 900 | 1,203 | 33.7 |
4 | Thailand | 600 | 734 | 22.3 |
5 | Germany Turkey Italy | 422 | 668 | 58.1 |
6 | Vietnam Netherlands | 583 | 666 | 14.2 |
7 | Indonesia | 521 | 601 | 15.3 |
8 | India | 503 | 583 | 15.9 |
9 | S. Korea | 521 | 501 | -3.9 |
10 | Malaysia | 416 | 482 | 15.8 |
| Others | 4,374 | 5,519 | 26.17 |
| Total | 17,212 | 21,110 | 22.6 |
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation |
Imports of Machinery into Taiwan by Category in 2011 | ||||
Rank | Produce Category | 2010 | 2011 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors | 13,192 | 10,748 | -18.5 |
2 | Pumps, Fans, Compressors | 1,202 | 1,370 | 14 |
3 | Special-purpose Machinery | 2,232 | 1,337 | -40.1 |
4 | Engines & Parts | 929 | 1,165 | 25.3 |
5 | Components and Parts | 784 | 1,044 | 33.1 |
6 | Machine Tools | 703 | 828 | 17.8 |
7 | Equipment for Materials Treatment | 915 | 809 | -11.7 |
8 | Valves & Parts | 635 | 793 | 24.8 |
9 | Glassware-making Machinery | 613 | 637 | 3.9 |
10 | Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment | 488 | 546 | 11.8 |
11 | Textile Machinery | 351 | 475 | 35.5 |
12 | Plastics & Rubber Machinery | 285 | 404 | 41.8 |
13 | Handling Equipment | 552 | 371 | -32.7 |
| Others | 4,183 | 4,936,058 | 18 |
| Total | 27,071 | 25,469 | -5.9 |
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry |
Taiwan's Import Sources of Machine Tools in 2011 by Origin | ||||
Rank | Nation | 2010 | 2011 | Annual Change (%) |
1 | Japan | 10,756 | 9,248 | -14 |
2 | Untied States | 5,832 | 4,617 | -20.8 |
3 | China + Hong Kong | 2,328 | 2,629 | 12.9 |
4 | Germany | 1,898 | 2,311 | 21.8 |
5 | Netherlands | 2,048 | 1,901 | -7.2 |
6 | South Korea | 953 | 726 | -23.8 |
7 | Switzerland | 353 | 528 | 49.5 |
8 | Italy | 331 | 482 | 45.4 |
9 | United Kingdom | 264 | 296 | 12.1 |
10 | France | 137 | 159 | 15.9 |
| Others | 2,167 | 2,568 | 18.5 |
Total | 27,071 | 25,469 | -5.9 | |
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation |