The data reflected lackluster domestic consumption and a decline in the added-value created by Taiwan companies.

Total revenues of the 1,000 largest companies in the manufacturing sector showed a healthy expansion of 13.4 percent to amount to NT$16.3 trillion in 2006, but the pace was slower than the 20 percent chalked up in 2004 and 2005, according to data compiled by the CommonWealth magazine.

The close to 14 percent average profit rate of the semiconductor industry, the highest in three years, helped lift the overall average profit rate of the manufacturing sector to 6.5 percent, up from the level of 5.3 percent for 2005.

The magazine attributed the vibrant manufacturing expansion primarily to the new products unveiled by multinational corporations, including new personal computer operating system Vista, telecommunications equipment like iPhone, and consumer electronic products like XBOX, PS3, and Wii.

With sales exceeding NT$1 trillion, Hon Hai Precision Industry remained the largest manufacturing enterprise in Taiwan in terms of revenues, followed by the state-run Chinese Petroleum, Asus Computer, Quanta Computer, Formosa Petrochemical, Compal Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), AU Optronics, Chi Mei Corp., and China Steel.

Though finished at the seventh place for revenues, TSMC was the only manufacturer capable of boosting profits to higher than NT$100 billion.

The 500 leading companies in the service sector suffered the first setback in five years in 2006 as their combined revenues fell NT$65.5 billion to NT$5.69 trillion, according to the CommonWealth.

As many as 205 of the companies saw decreases in revenues while the sector’s average profit rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent as in the previous year.

The state-owned Taiwan Power Co. led the sector. The others on the top 10 list were Acer Computer, Samsung Taiwan, Toshiba Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom, Evergreen Marine, Synnex International, Uni-President Convenience Store, China Airlines, and WPG Holdings.

The 100 largest financial service firms generated a high growth rate of 13.9 percent to boost their collective revenues to almost NT$5 trillion, but the average profit rate stood at only two percent.

Cathay Financial Holding consolidated its leading position in the sector, followed by the state-run Taiwan Post, Nan Shan Life Insurance, the government’s Bureau of National Health Insurance, Shin Kong Financial Holding, Fubon Financial Holding, the Labor Insurance Bureau of the government, Taishin Financial Holding, ING Life Insurance, and Mega Financial Holding.

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