A Report for the Current Status of Taiwanese Machine Tools Industry in May 2009
By Mr. C. C. Wang
Vice President, TAMI
The exports from January to May 2009 decreased by 54.8% over last year; the imports decreased 84.6%. High-tech industry's demands to equipment dropped steeply.
1. Exports of Taiwan Machine Tools
Based on the customs statistics in May 2009, the total export value of Taiwan machine tools reached US$ 710 million reflecting a 54.8% negative growth compared to last year. The export is decreasing dramatically. Among which cutting tools shared US$ 536 million with decrease of 57.3% comparing with the same period in last year. Forming machine tools shared US$ 174 million with a decrease of 44.9%.
(1) Exports Categorized by Products
To categorize by products among machine tools, machining centers decreased by 64.7%, lathes by 50.1%, grinding machine by 62.7% and milling and boring machine by 50.8%. Among forming machine tools, forging and punch presses decreased by 44.1%, and other forming machine tools decreased by 48.1% when comparing with the same period in last year. Refer to Table 1 for details.
(2) Exports Categorized by Countries
To rank by countries, China and Hong Kong were first with an export value of US$ 231 million, sharing 32.6% of the total export value and showing a 49.2% negative growth. The US ranked second with an amount of US$ 68 million, sharing 9.5% of the total export value and showing a 50.2% decreased. Germany ranked third with the amount of US$ 42 million, sharing 5.9% of the total and had 52.6% downturn comparing to the same period in last year. Refer to Table 2 for details.
2. Imports of Taiwan Machine Tools
According to Customs statistics form in May 2009, the import value of Taiwan machine tools amounted to US$ 131 million, which was 48.6% less than the last year. Among which cutting machine tools amounted to US$ 103 million which decreased by 87.2% compared to the previous year. Forming machine tool shared US$ 27 million which had a decrease of 34.4%.
(1) Imports Categorized by Products
In May 2009, the major imported machine tools were unconventional machine tools which dropped by 95.0% over the last year. Among which machining centers decreased of 39.0%; lathes decreased by 65.1%; boring and milling increased by 65.4% and grinding machine decreased by 37.9%. The export of machine tools for high tech industry increased in 2006 and 2007, appeared a downturn by 2008, and even further slumped in 2009. Refer to Table 3 for details.
(2) Imports Categorized by Countries
To rank the countries from which Taiwan imported machine tools in May 2009, Japan was the first with an amount of US$ 56 million, sharing 43.2% of the total import value and reflecting a 89.5% drop. The Germany ranked second with an amount of US$ 24 million, sharing 18% of the total import value. This reflected a 24.7% growth. Italy ranked third with an amount of US% 9 million, sharing 7.1% of the total and increased by 23.6%. Refer to Table 4 for details.
