Exports from manufacturers with operations at the Central Taiwan Science Park fell 12 percent quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter of last year, but the park administration said yesterday that the contraction would bottom out this quarter now that the global economic slump has eased.
Exports fell to NT$45.3 billion (US$1.51 billion) in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with a peak of NT$51.49 billion in the third quarter, according to figures released by the Central Taiwan Science Park Administration yesterday.
That brought last year’s annual exports to NT$189.18 billion, down about 23 percent from NT$244.42 billion in 2010. With exports of NT$151.84 billion, LCD-related products made the biggest contribution last year.
The nation’s No.2 LCD panel maker AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, operate their most advanced plants at the park. The companies also have plants in the nation’s other two science parks in Hsinchu and Tainan.
“As the impact of the European debt crisis is subduing gradually, the first quarter of this year is expected to be the trough,” the administration said in a statement.
In an effort to offset the adverse impact on exports from developed countries’ weak economic growth, the administration is helping local companies introduce new-generation technologies to stimulate growth.
Total trade shrank 8.34 percent last year to NT$312.28 billion, compared with NT$340.69 billion in 2010, according to the administration’s figures.
Asian countries were the top export destination, followed by Europe and the Americas, the statement said. Exports to Asia alone accounted for a large chunk, more than 70 percent.
At end the end of last year, manufacturers at the park hired 26,783 workers, the highest level in 27 months, the administration said in a separate statement.
Hon Hai Group (鴻海集團) yesterday held a job fair at the park to recruit 600 workers, mostly engineers, the administration said.
Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) also signed agreements with major machine tool manufacturer Hiwin Technologies Corp (上銀科技) chairman Eric Chuo (卓永財) and several other local firms to jointly capitalize on growing emerging markets, such as India and Brazil, it said.
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