Imports and Exports of Machine Tools in China Show Recovery Growth

In the first half of 2010, the total import and export volume of the machinery industry was 235.076 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 39.6% year-on-year. Among them, imports reached US$116.508 billion, up by 47.01% year-on-year, and exports were US$118.568 billion, up by 33.01% year-on-year. The import and export trade surplus is 2.06 billion US dollars (according to the statistical scope of the China Machinery Industry Federation, the same below).

The growth rate has not reached the pre-crisis level

In the first half of this year, the import and export of the machine tool industry was US$8.958 billion, which was a year-on-year increase of 33.3%, and it has been growing for the sixth consecutive month. Of this total, imports were US$6.485 billion, up 33.94% year-on-year; exports were US$2.473 billion, up 31.64% year-on-year. The import and export trade deficit was 4.012 billion U.S. dollars, a deficit of 3.132 billion U.S. dollars over the same period of last year, an increase of 880 million U.S. dollars.

In the first half of the year, 41.50 million metal processing machine tools were imported, with a total of 3.907 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 24.28%; and an export value of 776 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 19.68%. Among them, the number of imported CNC machine tools was 8,358 units, which was US$1.606 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 7.23%; exports of 9,129 units, US$199 million, a year-on-year increase of 50.49%; processing centers imported 13,573 units, US$1.397 billion, a year-on-year increase of 74.41%; exports, 388 Taiwan, 27.3768 million US dollars, the amount decreased by 14.47% year-on-year; combined machine tool imports 297 units, 70.113 million US dollars, a decrease of 56.19% year on year; exports of 1332 units, 4.207 million US dollars, the amount of 13.69% year-on-year decline.

The import and export situation in the first half of this year showed three characteristics:

First, although the industry-wide exports have grown more, they have not yet reached the level of the same period before the 2008 financial crisis. Compared with the same period in 2008, exports in the first half of 2010 were still $252 million less than exports in the first half of 2008 ($2.725 billion), and therefore are still recovering growth.

Second, the export growth of CNC machine tools is very large, but the structure has not improved. In the first half of this year, the export value of CNC machine tools increased by 50.49% year-on-year, but the average unit price was only US$21,800, which was lower than the US$28,300 in the first half of 2009. It shows that the structure of export products has not only not improved, but also the gap has widened.

Third, the import of processing centers has grown at a rapid rate and major changes have taken place in demand. In the first half of this year, it imported 1.397 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 74.41% year-on-year, and the growth rate was rapid. However, the average unit price was only US$102,900, which was significantly lower than the US$21.86 million in the first half of 2009, indicating that the structure of imported products has undergone major changes.

Adjust the export structure

Since the beginning of this year, the world economy has generally experienced continuous ups and downs, and has gradually recovered. The economic conditions in developed economies such as Europe, the United States, and Japan began to improve slowly, and Chinese enterprises have achieved success in exploring other potential markets (eg India, ASEAN, South America). Etc.) The demand will increase. However, due to the lack of momentum in the recovery of the world economy, many deep-seated contradictions and problems have yet to be resolved, coupled with the European sovereign debt crisis is still developing, the uncertainty of economic development has increased. At the same time, in the economic downturn, trade protectionism will continue to occur in various countries. All these will have an impact on China's exports.

What is worth paying attention to at present is that after the international financial crisis occurred, various countries adopted a series of corresponding measures, and the international market demand has undergone some changes. The customer places special emphasis on "applicability, quality, and low cost", and some have made some personal requirements. Relevant exporting companies must adapt to this change and adjust their product structure and services in a timely manner in accordance with the needs of users.

From the analysis of the export situation of CNC machine tools and machining centers in the first half of the year, the product structure still has not improved much. The export of CNC machine tools is still dominated by low-grade products. The average unit price of processing center exports in the first half of this year was 70,500 U.S. dollars, which was significantly lower than the level of 990,600 U.S. dollars in the first half of 2009.

To this end, special emphasis must be placed on increasing the technological content and grade of export products, increasing the quality of labor-intensive products and striving to raise their prices appropriately. Such as some high-quality ordinary machine tools, metal processing tools, machine tool accessories and a considerable technical content of the mid-range CNC machine tools and machining centers. At the same time, “two high and one capital” products should gradually reduce exports, such as machine tool castings, abrasives, and so on. In 2010, the import and export tariffs issued by the Chinese government stipulated that a temporary export tariff of 15% shall be imposed on crude and forging billets with the taxation number 72249010 and single weight ≥10 tons, which will inevitably increase the export product cost and require the attention of relevant enterprises. .

Developing potential markets

While continuing to consolidate and expand the three major export markets of the European Union, Japan, and the United States, the machine tool industry should continue to actively explore potential markets such as the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, India, Brazil, Argentina, and Russia in an effort to make up for the EU, Losses in markets such as the United States. Special attention should be paid to opening up markets such as 10 ASEAN countries, India, Central Asia, Brazil, and Russia, opening up new channels, seeking new customers, and diversifying the export market. China's high-quality general machine tools, CNC machine tools and machining centers, pressure machinery, bending machines and other forming machine tools and some tools, machine tools and other accessories have competitive advantages, we must actively work to expand exports.

Since the beginning of this year, the debt crisis started by Greece has extended to Portugal, Spain and other countries, leading to the outbreak of the European sovereign debt crisis, prompting a sharp depreciation of the euro and making the yuan appreciate relative to the euro, resulting in a higher price and profit for export products in China. Great negative effect. The relevant companies need to pay close attention to the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the Euro, reasonably arrange export orders and reduce exchange losses. Special attention should be paid to not using the euro for pricing, signing and settlement.

At the same time, due to the European debt crisis, EU countries have adopted fiscal austerity policies, import demand will be reduced, and the required product composition will also change. We must keep abreast of changes in the EU market demand and timely adjust the structure of export products. , Reasonable quotations, timely contracted transactions.

Avoiding exchange rate risk

China's import and export trade has always been accustomed to denominating, signing and settlement in dollars. Since the implementation of the new exchange rate mechanism in July 2005, it has provided a new route for pricing, signing, and settlement of other currencies that are not US dollars.

On June 19 of this year, the People's Bank of China resumed the reform of the Renminbi exchange rate, increased flexibility in the exchange rate of the Renminbi, and the appreciation of the Renminbi has taken a step. The central parity of the Renminbi against the US dollar has recently hit a new high in the past five years.

On June 22, the People's Bank of China, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation and the China Banking Regulatory Commission jointly issued the "Notice on Expanding the Issues Concerning the Pilot Project of Expanding Cross-border Trade in Renminbi Settlement", and decided to expand the scope of pilot projects for cross-border trade in RMB settlement. Scope and business scope. The domestic pilot areas have expanded from four cities in Shanghai and Guangdong to 20 provinces and cities such as Beijing, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Liaoning; overseas regions have expanded from Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN to the world; their business scope has expanded from goods trade to service trade.

This measure is an important choice for avoiding exchange rate risks. It can reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar and reduce losses caused by the appreciation of the renminbi to export companies. At the same time, it also strengthens the renminbi's international currency status and China's dominance in the international financial sector.

Judging from recent multi-party information, many companies, including foreign-funded enterprises, are also willing to use RMB settlement and have achieved substantial results. Many companies, such as ASEAN, Russia, and Brazil, also want to use RMB for settlement. Export companies must work closely with their customers to select strong banks and actively promote RMB settlement.