Taiwan`s Machine-tool Industry Saw Exports Down 54.7% in H1

Taiwan exported US$869.91 million worth of machine tools in the first half of 2009, down 54.7% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of this, exports for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$660.75 million, down 56.8%, and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$209.16 million, down 46.8%.

In terms of specific items, exports for machining centers amounted to US$228.07 million, down 63.6%; exports for EDMs (electric discharge machines) and laser cutting machines came to US$33.875 million, down 58.2%; that for lathes reached US$209.217 million, down 52.2%; that for drilling, boring and milling machines came to US$102.829 million, down 46.6%; that for grinding machines reached US$39.992 million, down 59.7%; and that for shaping, sawing and gearing machines reached US$46.77 million, down 49%.

In respect of export destinations, mainland China and Hong Kong together stood at the first place by absorbing US$321.87 million worth of machine tools from Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 43% year-on-year and accounting for 37% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$78.03 million, down 53.9% and commanding 9%. Germany stood at the third place with US$45.1 million, down 57.8% and accounting for 5.2%. Other major export destinations, in descending order, were Thailand, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Malaysia, Italy, Vietnam, Japan, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

The TMTF`s tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$158.08 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, down 83.5% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$125.3 million, down 86.2%, and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$32.77 million, down 30.4%.

Japan was the largest import source by exporting US$65.9 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 88.9% year-on-year and accounting for 41.7% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$26.77 million, up 16.6% and commanding 16.9%. Italy stood at the third place with US$14.5 million, up 89.2% and accounting for 9.2%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	81,016	33,875	-58.2
Machining Centers	626,590	228,071	-63.6
Lathes	437,839	209,217	-52.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	192,440	102,829	-46.6
Grinding Machines	99,206	39,992	-59.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	91,779	46,770	-49
Presses and Shearing Machines	315,839	168,938	-46.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	76,963	40,226	-47.7
Total	1,921,672	869,918	-54.7
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	749,631	38,810	-94.8
Machining Centers	26,390	14,333	-45.7
Lathes	43,235	16,508	-61.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	24,943	9,802	-60.7
Grinding Machines	48,354	32,193	-33.4
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	17,476	13,657	-21.9
Presses and Shearing Machines	42,042	26,926	-36
Other Metal-forming Machines	5,046	5,852	16
Total	957,117	158,081	-83.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

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