Taiwan machine tool exports rise 9 pct on-yr in Jan-July 2006

Taiwan exported NT$53.5 billion (US$1.62 billion)-worth of machine tools between January and July last year, up 9 per cent from the same period of the previous year, the Precision Machinery Development Association of Taiwan reported Monday.

Association President Yang Teh-hua said machine tools have great development potential and estimated that the annual production value of machine tools, parts and components could break NT$400 billion by 2010.

The production value of Taiwan’s machine tools was registered at NT$109 billion in 2005, of which 78 per cent, or NT$85.4 billion, was destined for export.