The metals industry is a critical pillar of economic development in Kaohsiung. The core manufacturing and production plants of renown metals businesses, including China Steel Corporation, Tang Eng, and CSBC, are all located in Kaohsiung. Together with the raw materials suppliers, the globally competitive production and processing capabilities of the metals manufacturers shape a comprehensive metals industry cluster in Kaohsiung.
To face the global competition in recent years, the development of the metals industry has steered toward high value sectors such as aerospace, biotechnology and medical materials, and marine technology. Moreover, in the biomedical materials sector, Taiwan's metal products have reached market penetration of 100% in the domestic market, with dental implants accounting for over 70%.