Taiwan exported US$2.966 billion worth of machinery products in the first two months of this year, up 35.1% year-on-year, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Of total exports, the category of machine tools ranked first with export value reaching US$524.04 million in the first two months of this year, up 68.2% from a year earlier. Plastics and rubber processing machinery came second with US$221.09 million, up 62.2%, and special-purpose machinery ranked third with US$180.99 million, jumping 42.9%. The category of bearings, gears and ball screws took the fourth place with US$179.75 million, up 60%. The fifth rank went to the category of pumps, compressors and fans with US$156.972 million, up 29.7%.

Other major export items, in descending order, were valves and parts, machine-tool parts and components, papermaking and printing machinery, textile machinery, woodworking machinery, molds and dies, sewing machines, leather and shoes making machines, as well as food and packaging machinery.

In regard to major export outlets, China ranked first by absorbing US$1.092 billion worth of Taiwan-made machinery in the first two months of this year, up a whopping 70.6% year-on-year and accounting for 34% of the total exports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$417.71 million, down 2% and commanding 14.1%. The third place went to Japan with US$171.58 million, up 30.6% and accounting for 5.8%.

Other major export destinations, in descending order, were India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Singapore, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, the Philippines, Italy, Canada, Australia and Russia.

The TAMI’s tallies also show Taiwan imported US$4.554 billion worth of machinery in the first two months of this year, up 44.8% year-on-year and indicating domestic investment willingness has recovered.

The largest import item was the machinery for ICs and semiconductors with import value reaching US$2.237 billion in the first two months of this year, up 56.3% year-on-year and accounting for 49.1% of the total imports. The second place went to special-purpose machinery with US$240.628 million, down 1.5% and accounting for 5.3%. The category of pumps, compressors and fans ranked third with US$190.295 million, up 10.9% and accounting for 4.2%.

Other major import items, in descending order, were engines and parts, quipment for the treatment of materials, machinery components and parts, machine tools, glassware-making machinery, valves and parts, air conditioning and refrigerators, textile machinery, as well as plastics and rubber machinery.

In terms of import sources, Japan ranked first by selling US$1.697 billion wroth of machinery to Taiwan in the first two months of this year, up 39.1% year-on-year and accounting for 37.3% of the total imports. The U.S. stood at the second place with US$1.003 billion, up 36.4% and commanding 22%. The third place went to Germany with US$343.06 million, up 51.3% and accounting for 7.5%. Other major import sources, in descending order, were China and Hong Kong together, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom and France.

�