Affected by the lasting European Dept Crisis, Taiwanese fasteners exported to the EU slid by 4% to NT$ 29.8 billion in the fourth quarter from the last. However, the average export price in Q4 rose slightly by 3.7% to 86.8 NT$/kg from Q3. And the fasteners imported by Taiwan reached NT$ 1.2 billion in Q4, seeing a growth of 4% while compared with Q3.

In 2011, the total output value of Taiwanese fasteners reached NT$ 126.4 billion, of which, the export value was NT$ 117.5 billion, increased by 15% from 2010, the second year to break the record of export value. And the fasteners imported by Taiwan was NT$ 4.5 billion in value, up 8% year-on-year. Worth to mention that, the fasteners demanded by Taiwan local market was NT$ 13.3 billion in value. In addition, the average export price was 82.4 NT$/kg in 2011, which topped the highest record in history.

In 2011, the United States imported 34% of Taiwan’s fasteners as the largest importer, followed by Germany (10%), Netherlands (6%), Japan (6%), and United Kingdom (4%), of which, the average price of such fasteners shipped to Japan was the highest one of 100 NT$/kg while the fasteners shipped to the other four countries was 76 to 83 NT$/kg in average.

On another hand, Japan, the United States, Mainland China, Germany, and Philippines were Taiwan’s top five fastener exporters, commanding 55%, 10%, 8%, 6% and 4% shares respectively in 2011.