Taiwan’s export orders soared in September, posting their eighth consecutive monthly gain and beating market expectations as the island solidifies its position as a critical global hub for artificial intelligence (AI). According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, export orders grew 30.5% year-on-year to $70.22 billion, easily surpassing analysts’ consensus of a 17.8% rise.
The robust performance comes despite ongoing concerns surrounding a 20% general tariff imposed on Taiwanese exports by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Taiwanese officials have described the tariff as “temporary” and stated that negotiations with the U.S. remain underway for more favorable terms.
As home to industry giants such as TSMC, the world’s leading contract semiconductor manufacturer, Taiwan’s export order figures are widely regarded as a barometer for global tech demand. The Ministry highlighted that, although global trade faces persistent uncertainties from shifting policy and geopolitical risks, Taiwan continues to benefit from accelerating applications in AI and high-performance computing.
These factors, alongside the seasonal uptick typical in the fourth quarter ahead of year-end holidays in western markets, are expected to further bolster momentum.
The ministry projects full-year export orders to reach a new record high and expects October orders to climb between 23.7% and 27.3% year-on-year.
In September, orders for telecom products rose 33.1% from a year earlier, while electronic goods saw an even stronger 45.9% surge. By region, orders from China increased 11.6% (rebounding from a 0.7% dip in August), while U.S.-bound orders jumped 40.2% compared to a 33.6% gain in the previous month. Taiwan also recorded higher demand from Europe (up 16.9%) and Japan (up 22.8%).
