Taiwan Gains in Motorcycle Exports 

                                                 BY DANIEL FOONG

                                                                                                                        May 12, 2005    Motorcycle exports

Taiwan registered nearly 3 percent increase in the export of motorcycles in 2004, amounting to 581,455 units, over the figures a year earlier. 

These export figures of motorcycles last year were compiled and released by the Taiwan Transportation Vehicles Manufacturers Association (TTVMA). 

The TTVMA statistics show that Japan remained the top market for Taiwan-made motorcycles,purchasing 127,607 units, or nearly 22 percent of Taiwan’s total shipment of motorcycles “The Japanese orders represent 58 percent increase of our total exports,” an official of the association said. 

The United States, the second biggest buyer of Taiwan motorcycles in 2004, purchased 104,985 units from the island nation during the 12-month period, accounting for 18 percent of Taiwan’s total motorcycle exports in 2004. Although the U.S. was the second biggest purchaser, its purchase was a decline of 43 percent compared with the corresponding period the year before. 

Nigeria, the third biggest buyer from Taiwan, ordered 43 percent less to 45,416 units, which  accounted for 7.8 percent of Taiwan’s total exports of motorcycles last year. 

Among the European buyers, orders from Spain and Great Britain jumped dramatically, an increase of 172.7 percent and 141.6 percent respectively compared with a year earlier. 

Hong Kong, which was returned to mainland China from the British rule in 1997, bought 12,348 motorcycles from Taiwan last year, an increase of 117.7 over a year ago. 

Although Taiwan made a gain of nearly 3 percent in terms of motorcycle units last year, its total revenues stood at NT$15.64 billion, a dramatic growth of 28 percent, the TTVMA figures show.  

Malaysia and Germany were the fourth and fifth biggest buyers of  motorcycles made by Taiwan manufacturers, standing at 37,907 units and 33,265 units respectively, representing an increase of 24.2 percent and 23.9 percent respectively.