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These are in-depth pre- and post-show reports on major international trade fairs, held in Taiwan and other countries with significant participation by Taiwanese manufacturers and exporters. They are offered to help global buyers and other readers better understand what is going on at the fairs and the latest offerings by Taiwanese exhibitors.


Tight-knit hand tool hub in Taiwan is an attractive feature for international buyers. (Photo courtesy of CENS)

Taiwan's hand tools and hardware sectors brace for H2 2022

Aug 15, 2022

⬛ Chao Ting-yu Throughout 2021, Taiwanese hand tool suppliers were able to maintain business-as-usual operations, leading to export value growth of 27.4%, reaching USD$4.79 billion. The steady performance has continued into 2022. The latest statistics between January to June 2022 continued to show a steady growth: Taiwan's hardware and hand tools exports amounted to USD$2.44 billion, with an a...


A photo depicting hand tools. (Photo courtesy of CENS)

What the hand tools sector can do to bridge the digital gap

Aug 02, 2022

⬛ Chao Ting-yu In an interview with an industry analyst from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), published in the 2022 edition of Taiwan Hand Tools, we discussed the overall AI trends in Taiwan’s industries. This brief excerpt discusses how Taiwan’s hand tools sector (and the majority of industries here) is really built on SMEs, yet there are significant challenges, such as im...


Tight-knit hand tool hub in Taiwan is an attractive feature for international buyers. (Photo courtesy of CENS)

Taiwan's hand tools and hardware sectors brace for H2 2022

Aug 02, 2022

⬛ Chao Ting-yu Throughout 2021, Taiwanese hand tool suppliers were able to maintain business-as-usual operations, leading to export value growth of 27.4%, reaching USD$4.79 billion. The steady performance has continued into 2022. The latest statistics between January to June 2022 continued to show a steady growth: Taiwan's hardware and hand tools exports amounted to USD$2.44 billion, with an a...


Automation and digital transformation have crucial roles to play in traditional sectors. (Photo courtesy of CENS)

How can suppliers bolster resilience against future technology advancements?

Aug 02, 2022

⬛ Chao Ting-yu The roles automation and AI play for traditional sectors can alleviate the pressure of hiring and talent retention. In the future, companies will have more difficulties hiring production line operators, maintaining operation quality, and limiting their operational capacity, as the workforce retires, and younger talents are less likely to work in these sectors due to poor working...


C85690 forgeable lead-free dezincification resistant brass-made plumbing valve spool. (Forged product) Photo credit: MIRDC

Eco-friendly materials continue to trend amid global industry change

Mar 25, 2022

Industries are focusing on new technologies for better environmental sustainability and to promote the overall protection and safety of consumers. The same is trending in Taiwan's hardware and plumbing sector. Companies and consumers are becoming more and more aware of the long-term impact of pollutive materials on natural resources, and as policies and regulations are changed in other crucial ma...


Financial Events for Upcoming Week (March 14)</h2>

Financial Events for Upcoming Week (March 14)

Mar 14, 2022

1. Foxconn MIH Alliance Sees Over Hundreds of Japanese Suppliers Join Foxconn's foray into the electric vehicle industry is seeing big gains, as The Nikkei reported that notable Japanese brands like Toyota, and auto part supplier Denso, which has invested in TSMC's Kumamoto factory project, are all slated to join Foxconn's MIH Alliance initiative. Other benchmark Japanese suppliers, such as Ho...


Taiwan's SME notes trends shaping the hand tools industry for next decade</h2>

Taiwan's SME notes trends shaping the hand tools industry for next decade

Feb 16, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic's disruption on the economy has propelled the lesser-known aspects of the global supply chain into mainstream awareness, such as the focus on Taiwan as semiconductor chip demands soared. While Taiwan is more widely known as the semiconductor hub of the world, equally crucial to keeping the world's economy running are hand tools. The island's hand tools sector is a centralize...


Expect hybrid events, restricted travel, but hope for the best</h2>

Expect hybrid events, restricted travel, but hope for the best

Feb 16, 2022

The global trade exhibition industry has seen its most turbulent period in the past two years, brought to an abrupt halt by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, seen further setbacks in 2021, and it's expected to continue into 2022, though to a lesser degree, as the industry expects in-person events to open gradually. In an early December press release from 2021, globally-renowned event organizer Me...


Photo credit: UDN/Reuters

Domestic container shipping warns choppy waters in supply chain ahead

Feb 08, 2022

The domestic container shipping industry believes that the container ship market is still experiencing difficulties as Asian countries enter the Year of the Tiger. The current information obtained by domestic companies is that the port congestion situation in the U.S. is still difficult and unlikely to lessen in the short term. Fortunately, shipping prices were able to experience a brief repr...


Global nickel prices, photo credit: UDN file photo.

Nickle prices at all-time high amid stainless steel price hike for Feb.

Jan 24, 2022

Walsin Lihwa announced significant price hikes measures going into February for 300 series stainless steel; for domestic sales, prices per ton would be increased NTD$6,000, while outbound stainless steel would see a USD$200 per ton increase. 400 series stainless steel prices will remain at the threshold. With basic metal prices surging, specifically for copper and nickel, the latter saw the bi...