TAIPEI -- Taiwan is the world’s fourth largest exporter of woodworking machinery. Among all exports, the US has been Taiwan’s top destination since 2015. According to the annual report from the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association (TWMA), the U.S. once again ranked as its largest market in 2021 with $576 million in shipments.  Last year represented an all-time high with almost 30% growth over 2020's $446.8 million.  View the full report.

From all the woodworking machinery being exported to global markets in 2021, sawing machinery ranked the top with $486.2 million, and followed by planning/ milling/moulding machinery with $142.3 million, sanding/polishing machinery with USD61.8 million, drilling or mortising machines with $47.8 million, and woodworking lathes with $18.6 million. 

American woodworkers are familiar with the 4-sided moulder maker-Leadermac, or the CNC router maker- Anderson, but in fact, there are more OEM/ODM makers, specialized machinery, and customized machinery brands also from Taiwan. These brands include the optimizing rip saw maker-Kuang Yung, the sanding machinery brand-Sanderson, the EDM brand-OAV, and the veneer-making machinery and box-packing machinery-Innovator. Most of these Taiwanese machinery makers are specialized in one or two kinds of woodworking machines, but they have also cooperated with each over for decades in helping local and foreign customer build a production line or even the whole factory.

According to the TWMA, the U.S.-China trade war has opened another opportunity for Taiwan woodworking machinery sales to the U.S. market, and for buyers sourcing customized woodworking machinery, accessories, or cutting tools. Here are some activities recommended by the TWMA to learn more about Taiwan's woodworking industry:

• Woodworking Network Webinar --Taiwan Business and Trade Show Webinar for Woodworking Industry Series: Explore New Woodworking Technology from Taiwan to be held August 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Presenters include Innovator for veneering and box-packing machinery, Kuang Yung for its optimizing rip saw, Jun Shiau (branded as Sanderson) for new top and bottom sanding machinery, and OAV for customized edgebanding and sliding table saws. Register for the webinar.
• Wood Taiwan 2023 -- To be held April 20–23, the event is Taiwan’s one and only international woodworking show that features Taiwanese woodworking machinery, as well as other related accessories such as cabinet hardware or hand tools. Learn more about Wood Taiwan 2023.
• IWF AtlantaTaiwan Pavilion -- IWF will be held August 23-26. To search for Taiwan suppliers, visit the TWMA association’s booth at Hall BC, Level 1- BC 809. Learn more about IWF.
• Taiwan Wood Innovation Application Exhibition & Wood Industry Forum.  To be held September 15 -18 in Taichung, Taiwan  Learn more about this event.