Taiwan exported NT$6.79 billion worth of medical equipment in the first quarter of this year, up 10.77 percent over the level for the same period last year, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan said Saturday.ITRI analyst Wu Hsin-jui said the growth was due mainly to an increase in export orders, noting that international medical equipment giants have continued to subcontract their orders to counterparts in the Pacific and that demand in emerging markets has continued to increase. Taiwan’s main medical equipment exports included vehicles for disabled people, accounting for NT$630 million, or 15.1 percent, of the total, as well as parts and accessories for medical instruments, other equipment for experimental use or medical treatment, and contact lenses.
Taiwan also imported NT$8.52 billion worth of medical equipment in the first quarter, down 0.93 percent from NT$8.6 billion for the same period last year. Taiwan mainly imported catheters, canular, contact lenses, artificial dialysis equipment, artificial bones, parts and accessories for dentistry and other physiotherapy massager.
