According to the Taiwan Machine Tool Development Foundation, among the 82 types of metalworking machine tools imported from China, 26 categories of German products hold the largest market share. These include 19 types of metal cutting machines and 7 types of forming machines. Last year, China imported $270 million worth of laser processing machine tools, marking a 47.7% increase compared to the previous year. This accounted for 34.2% of the total imports. Additionally, the import of ultrasonic processing machine tools rose by 122.1%, with a market share of 38.5%. Meanwhile, other processing technologies such as electrochemical and electron beam-based machine tools saw a decline of 41.1%, holding a 24.9% share.
In terms of machining centers and combined machine tools, Germany remained a dominant supplier. Imports of machining centers for processed metals increased by 34.0%, with a market share of 47.8%. Single-station combined machine tools saw a massive 442.3% rise, capturing 62.3% of the market. Multi-station combined machine tools also grew by 44.6%, with a 38.3% share.
Regarding lathes, imports of other CNC lathes from Germany declined slightly by 0.7%, with a 27.4% market share. However, the import of other types of lathes surged by 603.3%, reaching a 36.7% share.
For drilling, boring, and milling machines, German imports of linear mobile power head drilling machines dropped by 45.4%, maintaining a 52.1% market share. CNC boring machines fell by 37.9%, with a 34.9% share, while other CNC milling machines rose by 51.9%, capturing 42.0% of the market.
In the grinding machine sector, Germany dominated several key categories in 2012. CNC cylindrical grinders held a 30.9% share, internal grinders at 49.1%, non-CNC roll grinders at 40.7%, other grinders at 29.3%, CNC sharpening tools at 31.4%, and honing machines at 43.4%.
Germany also maintained strong positions in planers and gear-cutting machines, with shares of 54.0% and 55.8%, respectively.
In the field of forming machine tools, German CNC straightening machines captured 64.3% of the market, while non-CNC models reached 51.4%. German products also led in CNC cutting and shearing machines, with shares of 27.8% and 21.5%. In metal profile extrusion machines, German brands occupied 47.0% of the market.
Finally, in wire processing and non-cutting machine tools, German products remained highly competitive, with market shares of 31.3% and 24.6%, respectively. Overall, Germany continues to play a central role in China's machine tool imports, particularly in high-precision and specialized equipment.
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