Industry Report
Taiwan's Lock Exports on Slow Rise over the Last Five Years
There are some 270 manufacturers of locks and related components and parts in Taiwan, turning out a production value of NT$19 billion in 2007. The figures were released by the Metal Industries Research andDevelopment Center in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan which were obtained from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The Metal Industries Research and Development Center (MIRDC) is a non-profit organization, founded in1963 in Kaohsiung, an international seaport in the south of Taiwan. With regular subsidies from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the center also has to earn its living by soliciting projects from public agencies and private industrial sectors.
The MIRDC said 80 percent of the locks and related components and parts rolled out from Taiwan's production lines are exported, amounting to NT$12.77 billon in 2007, with the U.S. and mainlandChina as the biggest markets. While the U.S. takes nearly 45 percent of the revenues, mainland China absorbs 8.4 percent.
Slow increase over exports
Over the past five years from 2003 through 2007, Taiwan's exports of locks and related components and parts had been on slow rise. In 2003, export values amounted to NT$8.48 billion. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, export revenues stood at NT$10.7 billion, NT$10.8 billion, NT$11.67 billion and NT$12.77 billion respectively.
In addition to exports, Taiwan also imports locks and related parts and components from other countries. The Metal Industries Research andDevelopment Center revealed that imports grew slowly over the past five years since 2003. They were largely imported from mainlandChina and Japan. In 2003, imports amounted to NT$950 million. In 2004, imports stood at NT$1.24 billion; in 2005, NT$1.4 billion; in 2006 at NT$1.39 billion and in 2007 at NT$1.59 billion. Of the imported products, vehicle locks accounted for 32 percent and components and parts comprised of 45 percent.
Encouraged by the MIRDC, the Locks Association of Taiwan (LAT) was formally established on June 6 this year at the head office of MIRDC. The formation of LAT is to help the lock industry upgrade product quality and produce innovative products. Members of the association will also be helped to strengthen international sales and marketing.
Another mission of the association is to help develop R&D and designing personnel for the lock industry. To gain expertise and experience from advanced countries, the Locks Association of Taiwan will hold seminars following firm establishment by inviting experts and scholars to do presentations.
