Page 33 - Taiwan Machinery 2021-09 Edition

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INDUSTRY REPORT

Uncer
Uncertain future ahead in a tain future ahead in a

number of
number of business activities business activities

COVID-19-caused closures, supply chain issues as outbreak hit SE Asia

aiwan’s local outbreak between May and July has Machinery Industry (TAMI) and the Taiwan External Trade
Teased up as successful measures essentially stamped Development Council (TAITRA).
out the local spread and amid rising inoculation rates.
However, this is only to see the rest of the world buckle TaipeiPLAS, held concurrently with the Taipei
against the Delta variant after global economies enjoyed International Shoemaking Technology Show, was initially
a brief respite over the spring and early summer. What’s postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic concerns
worryingly is how aside from East Asian nations, where last September, however now with COVID-19 has been
the world’s major semiconductor factories are located, are localized in Taiwan and chances of returning to zero COVID
grappling with the worst outbreaks since the pandemic are slim, prompting organizers to move ahead with the
began, the Southeast Asian region is also the world’s cancellation. As TaipeiPLAS is traditionally held on even
manufacturing hub for many industries, and according years, TAMI has stated that the 2022 edition will continue
to media reports, is reported to be reaching its “breaking as scheduled around similar dates at the end of September
point. or early October.

As a result, organizers of many in-person or hybrid TAITRA stated Taiwan’s plastic and rubber machinery
trade shows have elected to postpone or host online- industries were heavily impacted by the COVID-19
only events. For instance, the in-person trade show event pandemic outbreak in 2020: with export value at USD$899
for TaipeiPLAS 2021 in the plastics and rubber industry million, marking an 11.1% decrease. The good news
was canceled in early July, with only the online version was that Taiwan remained in the top six export countries.
slated to kick off on the original date of Sept. 28 — a Shoemaking machinery also makes up at least 70% of
decision convened by organizers Taiwan Association of global market shares. In the past year, both sectors have
substantially increased their visibility in the global market.

Taiwan Machinery 2021 September