Sept. 2, 2002

While generally believable that Taiwan's mobile telephone boats increasing order volumes in the wake of the outsourcing trend of major international brands out official statistics differ so widely that "ambiguous" is the most lenient word to describe the situation.

A report released by the China External Trade Council (CETRA) of August predicts an 88 percent growth in production value in 2002 over last year and sales might reach 88 million pieces this year and jump to 150 million units in 2003. Another report of the usually reliable Market Intelligence Center of the government-backed Institute for Information Industry in July forecasted that the industry would deliver a total of 27 million units in 2002 for a world market share of 6,8% and forecasts the quantity of 2003 to reach 40,3% for a world market share of over 8,5%.

Also in July, a third source, the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs predicted a production value growth in 2002 of 56% over 2001 for a world market share of 10%. The MIC predicted that the world market this year would absorb a total of 400 million mobile phones.

In general, however, the island's handset industry is indeed burgeoning from the OEM business, with international brands accelerating to release their orders to Taiwan counterparts for 2003.