Mar 17, 2010
Taipei, March 11, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$1.743 billion of machine tools in 2009, down 53.2% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF). Of this, exports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$1.324 billion, down 55.3% and that for metal-forming machines totaled US$419.16 million, down 44.6%.
In terms of specific export items, exports for machining centers were down 60.7% year-on-year, lathes (down 54.6%), grinding machines (down 54.3%), drilling, milling and boring machines (down 46.6%), presses and shearing machines (down 47.3%), and other metal-forming machine tools (down 33.5%).
China and Hong Kong together ranked first by buying US$651.22 of Taiwan-made machine tools in 2009, down 41.6% from a year earlier and accounting for 37.4% of the total exports. The U.S. was second with US$124.83 million, down 63.1% and commanding 7.2%. Germany was third with US$75.58 million, down 66.3% and accounting for 4.3%.
The TMTF`s tallies also show Taiwan imported US$340.8 million of machine tools in 2009, down 77.8% year-ob-year. Of this, import value for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$272.54 million, down 80.9% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$86.26 million, down 36.8%. (See table)
The TMTF noted Japan was still the island`s largest supplier by selling US$167.12 million of machine tools to Taiwan in 2009, down 82.1% from a year earlier and accounting for 49% of the total imports. Germany was second with US$46.47 million, down 54.4% and commanding 13.6%. China and Hong Kong together ranked third with US$24.38 million, down 40.7% and commanding 7.2%.
C.C. Wang, CEO of TMTF, said Taiwan`s machine-tool industry returned to growth in the first quarter of this year, with many receiving orders to be shipped in the second quarter.
| Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in 2009
Unit: US$1,000 |
|||
| Products | 2008 | 2009 | Annual Change (%) |
| EDM, Laser-cutting Machines | 154,420 | 77,380 | -49.9 |
| Machining Centers | 1,203,647 | 473,457 | -60.7 |
| Lathes | 856,806 | 389,332 | -54.6 |
| Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines | 369,800 | 197,443 | -46.6 |
| Grinding Machines | 192,352 | 87,866 | -54.3 |
| Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines | 187,455 | 98,646 | -47.4 |
| Presses and Shearing Machines | 606,997 | 319,736 | -47.3 |
| Other Metal-forming Machines | 149,578 | 99,425 | -33.5 |
| Total | 3,721,055 | 1,743,285 | -53.2 |
| Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation | |||
| Imports of Machine Tools into Taiwan in 2009
Unit: US$1,000 |
|||
| Products | 2008 | 2009 | Annual Change (%) |
| EDM, Laser-cutting Machines | 1,111,447 | 104,916 | -90.6 |
| Machining Centers | 58,948 | 25,314 | -57.1 |
| Lathes | 80,704 | 41,071 | -49.1 |
| Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines | 40,759 | 17,856 | -56.2 |
| Grinding Machines | 93,308 | 54,160 | -42 |
| Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines | 42,599 | 29,228 | -31.4 |
| Presses and Shearing Machines | 91,655 | 59,017 | -35.6 |
| Other Metal-forming Machines | 16,315 | 9,243 | -43.3 |
| Total | 1,535,735 | 340,805 | -77.8 |
| Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation | |||
Source: CENS.com