Imports and Exports of Machine Tools Create New Height Over the Same Period

In the first half of this year, China's machine tool import and export hit a record high in the same period. According to customs statistics, the import and export of the machine tool industry in the first half of 2011 was US$ 13.743 billion, an increase of 53.41% year-on-year. Of this total, 10.387 billion U.S. dollars were imported, an increase of 60.03% year-on-year; exports were 3.364 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 36.05% year-on-year. The import and export deficit was 7.014 billion U.S. dollars, a deficit of 4.016 billion U.S. dollars over the same period of the previous year, an increase of 3.002 billion U.S. dollars (according to the statistics of China Machinery Industry Federation, the same below). However, with the rapid development of the machine tool market, there are still many problems in the industry that need to be solved.

In the first half of the year, import and export hit a record high for the same period of the calendar year. Metal processing machine tools imported 6.08 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 55.63% year-on-year. Among them, the processing center imported 2.285 billion U.S. dollars, which was a year-on-year increase of 63.56%, a net increase of 878 million U.S. dollars over the same period of the previous year; CNC machine tool imports were 2.365 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 47.25% year-on-year, a year-on-year increase of 7.59 over the highest year of the calendar year. One hundred million U.S. dollars. In one year, the net increase in imports of processing centers and CNC machine tools over the same period of the previous year was very rare. This situation not only explains the strong demand in the domestic market, but also reminds the domestic machine tool industry to find gaps and meet the needs of domestic users.

Exports grew rapidly and hit a new high over the same period in the first half of the year. Metal processing machine tools exported 2.15 million units (including bench drills, grinders, etc.), for a total of US$1.05 billion, a year-on-year increase of 35.31%. Among them, the processing center exported 1,390 sets of US$84.036 million, a year-on-year increase of 207.05%, and the highest net increase in 2008 over the same period of the previous year was 47.707 million US dollars, showing a rapid growth trend; CNC machine tools export 8577 sets, US$266 million, a year-on-year increase 33.51%, the highest net increase in 2008 over the same period of the previous year was $45 million. The rapid growth of export of processing centers opened up a new situation for the export of machine tools, and it requires further diversification to open up potential markets.

Four issues that still need attention Since this year, the world economy has been in a recovery phase after the financial crisis. Various countries have adopted a series of effective measures, the pace of economic growth has gradually recovered, and the demand in the international market has increased. However, at the same time, various emergencies, especially the political turmoil in some countries in West Asia and North Africa, the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, the continuation of the sovereign debt crisis in some European countries, and the superfluous liquidity in the United States and Japan, have contributed to the world’s The prospects for economic recovery have added new uncertainties and have also had a major impact on international financial and commodity markets.

In the first half of the year, the national investment in fixed assets increased by 25.6% year-on-year, of which the machinery industry increased by 41.77% year-on-year. The equipment required for the investment in fixed assets of the machinery industry is mainly machine tools, so the demand and import and export of machine tools in the domestic market will maintain rapid growth. At the same time, the appreciation of the renminbi, the rise in prices of some raw materials, and rising labor costs; rising interest rates on bank loans and the rise of trade protectionism in some countries will all cause difficulties for exporters. The current import and export of the machine tool industry need to pay attention to the following issues:

1. Adjusting and Optimizing the Structure of Export Products China's export of machine tool tools has a large share of labor-intensive products and low value-added products. In recent years, the structure of export products has improved, and the technological content of export products has improved. In the first half of this year, the average unit price for CNC machine tools was 31,000 US dollars per unit, which was US$ 21,800 per unit over the same period of last year, an increase of US$ 90,200 per unit. However, on the whole, the gap is still large and needs constant adjustment and optimization.

First, we must adapt to the needs of the international market and adjust the structure of our export products. After the international financial crisis took place, various countries have adopted a series of countermeasures. The international market has changed its demand structure. The relevant export enterprises must adapt to this change and adjust the product structure and provide services in accordance with the needs of users. Second, as domestic companies change their development methods, they adjust the progress of their product mix, promptly optimize the structure of their export products, and increase the technological content of their exports. We will continue to promote the transformation and upgrading of processing trade, and improve product coverage. Again, gradually reduce the "two high and one capital" product exports, such as machine tool bed casting blanks, forgings, steel structures and so on.

2. Export trades must work hard to avoid the continuous appreciation of the Renminbi due to the exchange rate test, which has caused great difficulties for exporters and they need to find effective ways to avoid exchange rate risks. The People's Bank of China and other departments have issued a "Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning the Expanding of the Pilot Project for RMB Settlements in Cross-Border Trade", which has had a positive effect. The Bank of China announced on July 7 that since the beginning of this year, the total amount of RMB settlement for cross-border trade between China and abroad has exceeded 840 billion yuan, which is much higher than the volume of business last year. This measure is to avoid exchange rate risk, reduce dependence on the US dollar, and avoid a reliable way to cause losses to the exporters due to the appreciation of the renminbi. According to statistics, by the end of last year, pilot enterprises for the implementation of cross-border trade in RMB settlement had exceeded 67,000. Export enterprises must actively strive for inclusion in the pilot list and actively promote RMB settlement.

Since most of the current RMB settlement amount is imported goods, export goods only account for 10 to 20%, and there is a clear “unbalanced” phenomenon. To this end, the People's Bank of China announced on June 21 this year the "Notice on Clear Issues Related to Cross-border Renminbi Business", which formally clarified the pilot measures for foreign direct investment in RMB settlement business. The "Notice" pointed out that overseas participating banks should track the flow of funds after customers purchase and sell RMB, conduct more detailed reviews on new customers and transactions with a relatively large amount, and should pay attention to monitoring abnormal transactions to prevent potential arbitrage.

3. Faced with a large number of imports, it is necessary to seize opportunities and improve the ability of independent innovation. The rapid growth of machine tool imports year after year has brought tremendous pressure on the domestic machine tool industry. Domestic enterprises must seize opportunities, meet challenges and improve independent innovation capabilities.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Commerce issued the Catalogue of Encouraged Import Technologies and Products (2011 edition), which includes 16 kinds of high-end machine tools (the same as the list released in 2009) giving policy support for discount interest (according to one-year bank loan interest rate). Since the implementation of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a large number of machine tools have been imported from Taiwan and have grown rapidly. Coupled with the appreciation of the renminbi will reduce the cost of imports. These factors will surely further expand imports.

To this end, relevant enterprises must make full use of the country's policy of encouraging imports, introduce the necessary advanced technologies and equipment, and use key components and parts for product support. At the same time, we must pay attention to the introduction of technology to absorb and re-innovation work. Independent innovation does not mean that everything should be developed from scratch. With the globalization of economy and the rapid development of science and technology, it is impossible for any country to independently develop technology in all fields and close its doors to engage in independent innovation. In this sense, it is very important to pay attention to the introduction, absorption and re-innovation of imported technologies. Through the import of technologically advanced equipment, conducting analysis and research, in the process of digestion and absorption, we will simultaneously improve and innovate, gradually form our own intellectual property rights, improve our ability of independent innovation, research and develop new products with independent intellectual property rights, and strive to improve our competitiveness. .

4. “Going out” to increase international operations According to the UNCTAD, China’s total foreign investment has risen from the 12th in the world in 2008 to the 6th in 2009. It is expected that the ranking will increase in 2010. China has Enter the stage of rapid growth of overseas investment. At present, relevant state departments are formulating relevant laws and regulations to promote the ease of offshore investment.

In recent years, some powerful enterprises in China's machine tool industry have achieved effective results in carrying out international operations, and some are gradually establishing global sales service outlets, creating very good conditions for further expanding exports. On the basis of summing up experience, we should continue to encourage more qualified machine tool companies to “go global” to invest in factories and factories, or to establish joint ventures or cooperation with local companies, or to selectively merge and acquire foreign companies with advanced manufacturing technologies. The conditions gradually transfer advanced technologies to products produced by domestic companies, so as to promote the adjustment and upgrading of the product structure of China's machine tool companies.