Investment Opportunities of the Connector Industry in Taiwan

Transcription

1 Investment Opportunities of the Connector Industry in Taiwan Taiwan is an ideal location for setting up regional operation centers for both foreign and domestic businesses for its excellent geographic location, well-developed industrial clusters, outstanding R&D ability, and well-established infrastructures. Take the connector business for example, Taiwanese manufactures, such as Foxlink, ACON, LOTES, JPC, Aces, Singatron, p-two, CviLux and CHANT SINCERE, created a combined operating revenue of more than NT$2 billion in Besides, other first-tier connector manufacturers, such as ALL TOP TECHNOLOGY, PLASTRON PRECISION and others, created revenue of more than NT$1.5 billion in the same year. As the economic and trade relations between Taiwan and the China are normalizing, along with the business opportunities coming from China s recent policies like One Belt and One Road and China manufacturing 2025, and gradual formation of local supply chains and IT industrial clusters, a thriving future for Taiwan s connector industry is expected. I. Attractions to Foreign Investors of Taiwan s Connector Industry 1. A significant clustering effect constituted by more than 300 manufacturers across Taiwan. 2. Taiwan is the major importing country of China. 3. The Taiwanese connector manufacturers take more than 10% share of the global connector output, with Foxconn as one of the world's Top 10, and Foxlink, SUYIN, LOTES, Aces and SINGATRON as Top 30 to Top The headquarters of global main manufacturers of electronics industry has been located in Taiwan. 5. Taiwan possesses the most comprehensive industrial chain of connector products in the world. 1

2 II. Structure and Status of Taiwan s Connector Industry Most connector manufacturers in Taiwan are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The 2014 statistics showed that there were about 345 connector manufacturers in Taiwan contributing an output value of NT$ billion in 2014, which accounts for 17.88% of total output value of Taiwan s electronic components industry (as Table 1). Table 1 Output Value of Taiwan s Electronic Components Industry (e) 2016(f) 2017(f) Unit: NT$ millions 2014 ~2015(e) Growth rate(%) Ratio% Optoelectronic 111, , , , % Passive 115, , , , % PCB 428, , , , % Connection 169, , , , % Energy 122, , , , % Total 947, ,691 1,025,643 1,065, % Source: IEK, ITRI ( ) As to industrial structure and industrial value change of connector industry (as Figure 1), suppliers of raw materials, such as metals, plastics and electroplating solutions, are upstream. At present, domestic suppliers are capable of supplying common electroplating solutions, such as yellow metal, PBT and tin/lead electroplating solutions; while high-level electroplating solutions, such as phosphor bronze, LCP and tinned copper electroplating solutions, have to import. As connector manufacturers maintain good relations with their raw material supplier, the source of supply has been secured. 2

3 Raw Materials Connector Manufacture Application Metals Plastics Electroplating Solutions First Copper Technology and Minchali Metal CCP, WGJ, LINK-UPON ADVANCED MATERIAL, Manufacturers usually outsource the Metal Sampling Plastic Injection Electroplating 170 manufacturers, such as Foxconn, Aces, ALL TOP TECHNOLOGY, Foxlink, Ji-Haw, Sinbon, JEM, UDE, Acon, TMEC, SINGATRON, p-two, CviLux, SHANG GANG, Qualibond, Foretech and others. WIN WIN PRECISION, Acon, SIMULA, ARGOSY, Cenlink, Nextron, Starlink and others Computer/Peripheral Communication Consumer Electronics Source: IEK, ITRI (2011). Electronic Component Industry Yearbook Figure 1 Structure of Taiwan s Connector Industry Mid-stream connector manufacturers generally refer to metal stamping, plastic injection, electroplating and assembly service providers. Considering the technology and cost factors, nearly all connector manufacturers outsource their electroplating. As to downstream applications, computer/peripheral, communication, and consumer electronics are the main products of Taiwan s connector manufacturers focusing on this field. In addition, the Taiwanese connector manufacturers have produced a wide range of production, including PCB connectors, rectangular I/O connectors, circular I/O connectors, CPU sockets, RF coaxial connectors, fiber optic connectors, high-voltage connectors, and others. At present, PCB connectors and rectangular I/O connectors are the main products of Taiwan s connector manufacturers. 3

4 III. China has been the major exporting country of Taiwan s connectors In 2014, Taiwan s connector export value was NT$15.38 billion (as Table 2). As China has become the assembly center of Taiwan s computer, communication and consumer electronics products, it has become the largest importing country of Taiwan s connectors, including notebook PC board to board, wire to board, FPC, FFC and memory connectors, which contributed about 35.8% market share. The big amount of export has caused by the investment of manufacturers in China. When leading notebook PC manufacturers continue to expand their investment, it is foreseeable that the import of connector from Taiwan will further increase. As to industrialized countries, the USA, Japan and Germany are the top three exporting countries of Taiwan s connectors. In terms of product ranges, the USA and Germany mainly import Taiwan s automobile, solar energy, and medical wire, Japan mainly import high speed I/O and wire products such as USB3.0, HDMI1.4. Table 2 The Taiwanese Connector Industry s Export in Ranking Export Value Country (NT$: million) Ratio (%) 1 China (included HK and Macau) 5, USA 3, Japan Germany UK Malaysia Others 4, Source:2015 Electronic Components Industry Yearbook Total 15, IV. Introduction of Leading Taiwanese Connector Manufacturers Table 3 shows the leading connector manufacturers in Taiwan. Generally speaking, Foxconn, Foxlink, LOTES, ACON, JPC, Aces were ranked at the world s Top 80 in Besides, they are the top 10 companies by sales in

5 Table 3 The Leading Connector Manufacturers in Taiwan Revenues Revenues Revenues NPR NPR NPR (NT$100 (NT$100 (NT$100 (%) (%) (%) million) million) million) Foxconn 42, , , Foxlink , ACON LOTES JPC Aces SINGATRON CviLux p-two COXOC JOINSOON SPEED TECH Alltop Plastron SIMULA Source: Market Observation Post System ( ) V. Strength and Opportunity Analysis of Taiwan s Connector Industry There are five main strengths for Taiwan s connector industry: (1) the geographical and language proximities with China; (2) the short distance allows quick response to market change; (3) the price is lower than the European, US and Japanese products; performance is superior to the Chinese and Korean products, with a higher PPR; (4) several leading manufacturers of home appliance and notebook PC connectors are located in Taiwan; and (5) high corporate management efficiency, production automation with quality employees. There are four main opportunities for Taiwan s connector industry: (1) Better political and economic relations between Taiwan and China in the post-ecfa period; (2) the rapid rise of computer, communication and consumer 5

6 electronics brands, including Lenovo, ZTE, Huawei, Hisense, and TCL in China will bring opportunities for Taiwan s connector industry; (3) the Chinese government s encouragement towards telecommunication, green energy, automobile and healthcare industries will create demand of connector products; and (4) As the local supply chain is gradually forming in China, Taiwanese manufacturers are able to capture the business opportunities because they have established production capacities there. 6