- Total World Output: $37-billion in 1997, down 4.2% compared to the $38.7-billion in 1996.
- Top Producing Country: Japan, with $9.7-billion worth of machine tools shipped in 1997. It is followed by Germany, the United States, Italy, and Switzerland. No change in order from the 1996 list of the top-five producers.
- Biggest Consumer: the United States, by far. During the year just ended, it purchased nearly 20% of of the total output of the world. It is followed by Germany, Japan, China, and Italy. Japan increased its consumption 27% while China decreased by the same percentage, and the two countries exchanged places on the dollar-denominated
top-five-consumers list compared to last year.
- Best machine-tool-trade balance: Japan, with a trade surplus of $6-billion. Worst trade balance: U.S.A., with a deficit of $2.6-billion.
- Worst trade balance: U.S.A., with a deficit of $2.6-billion.
- Per-capita consumption: Switzerland, Canada, Taiwan, and Germany top the list. Each spent more than $50 on machine tools for every person. At the bottom, among nations with a domestic machine-producing industry: India , with its huge population.
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