Taipei, April 17, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.57 billion of machinery in January this year, down 5.4% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Machine tools led in export with value amounting to US$331.14 million in January, up 11% year-on-year, followed by plastics and rubber processing machinery with US$104.12 million, down 2%, then ball screws, bearings and gears with US$102.67 million, up 6.6%. (See table below)

China and Hong Kong together led as export destination by absorbing US$339.78 million of Taiwan-made machinery in January 2012, down 35.7% year-on-year and accounting for 21.6% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$259.85 million, up 12.9% and commanding 16.5%. Japan ranked third with US$102.05 million, up 8.1% and accounting for 6.5%.

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

The TAMI's tallies also show Taiwan imported US$1.534 billion of machinery in January 2012, down 37.2% from a year earlier. (See table below)

Machinery for ICs (integrated circuits) and semiconductors led in imports with value reaching US$697.46 million in January 2012, down 38.8% year-on-year and accounting for 45.4% of the total imports. The second place went to the category of engines and parts with US$89.77 million, up 1.9% and commanding 5.9%. The category of pumps, compressors and fans stood at the third place with US$85.55 million, down 15.7% and accounting for 5.6%.

Japan was the largest import supplier by selling US$514.3 million of machinery to Taiwan in January 2012, down 38.7% year-on-year and accounting for 33.5% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$250.05 million, down 59.8% and commanding 16.3%. China and Hong Kong together stood at the third place with US$193.52 million, down 6.5% and accounting for 12.6%.

Other major import sources, in descending order, were the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, and France.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery in Jan. 2012 by Category Unit: US$ million
Rank	Product Category	Jan. 2011	Jan. 2012	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	298,242	331,140	11
2	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	106,238	104,124	-2
3	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	96,327	102,676	6.6
4	Valves & Parts	93,765	95,939	2.3
5	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	95,767	94,082	-1.8
6	Special-purpose Machinery	97,397	75,408	-22.6
7	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	81,375	63,928	-21.4
8	Machine-tool Parts & Components	79,995	58,903	-26.4
9	Textile Machinery	67,337	47,602	-29.3
10	Molds & Dies	50,276	42,403	-15.7
11	Woodworking Machinery	48,482	41,270	-13
12	Food & Packaging Machinery	35,706	37,325	4.5
13	Sewing Machines; Leather & Shoe-making Machines	44,207	36,029	-18.5
	Others	464,978	438,643	-5.7
	Total	1,660,092	1,570,372	-5.4
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery into Taiwan in Jan. 2012 by Category Unit: US$ million
Rank	Produce Category	Jan. 2011	Jan. 2012	Annual Change (%)
1	Machinery for ICs, Semiconductors	1,139,110	697,465	-38.8
2	Engines & Parts	88,075	89,779	1.9
3	Pumps, Fans, Compressors	101,433	85,558	-15.7
4	Components and Parts	75,103	65,635	-12.6
5	Special-purpose Machinery	122,637	55,981	-54.4
6	Valves & Parts	58,156	49,965	-14.1
7	Machine Tools	58,283	49,550	-15
8	Machinery Equipment for Materials Treatment	106,447	48,280	-54.6
9	Textile Machinery	38,195	35,536	-7
10	Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment	47,868	35,302	-26.3
11	Glassware-making Machinery	75,397	19,516	-74.1
12	Handling Equipment	27,911	19,090	-31.6
13	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	20,064	17,486	-12.8
	Others	486,498	265,509	-45.4
	Total	2,445,177	1,534,652	-37.2
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry