The NT dollar surged by 9.53 cents against the U.S. dollar on the 2nd, placing a heavy burden on the export-oriented machinery sector. Industry insiders warn that if the government allows the NT dollar to rise to 27 to 28 NT dollars, half of the machinery operators in Taiwan could face bankruptcy.

The chairman of the Taiwan Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association, Chuang Dalih, and the chairman of the HoDa Group, Shen Guorong, urged the government on the 2nd to maintain the exchange rate above 30 NT dollars to prevent dire consequences. They pointed out that most of the orders currently being shipped were contracted at an exchange rate above 32.5 NT dollars, meaning that any rise past 30 NT dollars would almost entirely result in loss for exported goods.

The Secretary-General of the Taiwan Machinery Industry Association, Hsu Wenton, emphasized that the machinery sector primarily focuses on exports and is significantly affected by exchange rate fluctuations. If the NT dollar continues to appreciate, the machinery industry will lose its international competitiveness, leading to a rupture in the manufacturing chain.