Taipei, Oct. 5, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan exported US$2.263 billion of machine tools in the first seven months, up 46.1% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled y the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Metal-cutting machine tools led as exports totaling US$1.833 billion in the first seven months, up 54% year-on-year and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$429.77 million, up 19.8%.

Exports of machining centers amounted to US$766.9 million in the first seven months, up 65.7% year-on-year, with those for lathes, grinding machines, and drilling machines hitting 55.4%, 65.9% and 22.6%, respectively in the same period.

China and Hong Kong together was the largest export outlet by absorbing US$971.48 million in Taiwan-made machine tools in the first seven months, up 30% year-on-year and accounting for 42.9% of the total. The U.S. ranked second with US$157.67 million, up 107.6% and commanding 7%. Turkey stood at third with US$132.7 million, up 114.6% and commanding 5%.

Taiwan imported US$503.54 million of machine tools in the first seven months, up 53.6%from a year earlier, of which that of metal-cutting machine tools came to US$439.48 million, up 63.4% and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$64.05 million, up 8.9%.

Japan was the island’s largest supplier by selling US$320.41 million of machine tools to Taiwan in the first seven months, up 61.4% year-on-year and accounting for 63.6% of the total. Switzerland was second with US$47.14 million, up a whopping 180% and accounting for 9.4%. Germany ranked third with US$34.24 million, up 26% and commanding 6.8%.