Taiwan Exported US$17.684 Billion Worth of Machinery in The First 10 Months of 2011

Taiwan exported US$17.684 billion worth of machinery in the first 10 months of 2011, up 26.5% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). The sector of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$3.294 billion in the first 10 months of 2011, up 39.1% year-on-year. The second place went to the sector of plastic and rubber processing machinery with US$1.126 billion, up 17.8%. The sector of bearings, gears and ball screws ranked third with US$1.113 billion, up 48.7%. Other major export items, in descending orders, were special-purpose machinery; pumps, compressors and fans; valves and parts; machine-tool components; paper making and printing machinery; textile machinery; woodworking machinery; sewing, leather and shoemaking machinery; molds and dies; and food processing and packaging machinery. In terms of major export outlets, China and Hong Kong together ranked first by absorbing US$6.107 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first 10 months of 2011, up 28.7% year-on-year and accounting for 34.5% of the total exports. The U.S. came second with US$2.479 billion, up 21.2% and commanding 14%. Japan ranked third with US$1.01 billion, up 37.5% and commanding 5.7%. Other major export outlets, in descending order, were Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore, the Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Russia, France, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Finland. The TAMI’s tallies also show Taiwan imported US$21.73 billion worth of machinery in the first 10 months of 2011, down 0.9% year-on-year. The largest import product category went to the sector of machinery for IC (integrated circuit) and semiconductor with import value reaching US$9.255 billion in the first 10 months of 2011, down 12.6% year-on-year and commanding a whopping 42.6% of the total imports. The second place went to the sector of pumps, compressors and fans with US$1.18 billion, up 18.6% and accounting for 5.4%. The sector of special-purpose machines stood at third with US$1.156 billion, down 39.7% and accounting for 5.3%. Other major import sectors, in descending order, were engines and parts; components and parts; equipment for material treatment; machine tools, valves and parts; glassware-making machinery; air conditioning and refrigerators; textile machinery; plastics and rubber processing machinery; and handling equipment. Taiwan still relied on imported machinery from Japan, the U.S., China and Germany. Japan was the largest import source by selling US$7.839 billion worth of machinery to Taiwan in the first 10 months of 2011, down 11.7% year-on-year and accounting for 36.1% of the total imports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$3.951 billion, down 16.6% and commanding 18.2%. China and Hong Kong together ranked third with US$2.186 billion, up 14.3% and commanding 10.1%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, and France. TAMI president C.C. Wang predicted Taiwan’s overall machinery exports will grow 20% up to 25% year-on-year to reach over US$20 billion in 2011. The TAMI said many domestic machinery manufacturers have seen production lines fully packed and begun receiving orders for shipping in the first quarter of 2012. Source: news.cens.com