Taiwan recorded a seventh consecutive month of growth in export orders in August, driven largely by rising global demand for technology products linked to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
According to data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Tuesday, export orders increased 19.5% year-on-year to $60.02 billion, surpassing economists’ expectations for a 13% gain.
Recognized as a bellwether for international technology demand, Taiwan’s export orders reflect the performance of major players such as TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, and other key tech manufacturers.
The robust August figures were underpinned by notable demand across sectors: telecoms products posted a 20.6% annual rise, while orders for electronic goods jumped 39.5%.
Nevertheless, Taiwan’s heavy reliance on trade faces mounting challenges as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 20% tariff on Taiwanese goods. The Taiwanese government has characterized the tariff as a “temporary” measure and indicated that negotiations are ongoing toward more favorable trade terms with Washington.
Despite these headwinds, officials remain cautiously optimistic. The ministry highlighted expanding demand for AI and high-performance computing, alongside seasonal increases ahead of year-end holidays in Western markets, as positive drivers for the remainder of the year. For September, authorities anticipate export orders will increase by between 19% and 22.7% year-on-year.
Regional export performance was mixed. Orders from the United States surged 33.6% in August, up from 25.4% in July, while orders from China edged down 0.7% following a 3.6% gain the previous month. Orders from Japan climbed 21%, while those from Europe declined by 0.3%.
