Taiwan Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecasts

Taiwan’s trade surplus surged to USD 21.27 billion in March 2026 from USD 6.93 billion in the same month a year earlier, far exceeding market expectations of USD 14.5 billion. This marked the largest trade surplus since October 2025, driven by strong demand for AI applications and other technology products. Exports soared 61.8% year-on-year to an all-time high of USD 80.18 billion, primarily driven by solid shipments of information, communication, and audio-video products (134.5%) and electronic components (44%). Exports jumped to the US (124%) and Mainland China and Hong Kong (27.4%). Meanwhile, imports climbed 38.3% to a record peak of USD 58.91 billion, mainly due to higher arrivals of electronic parts (63.4%) and information, communication, and audio-video products (131.6%). Import growth was strongest from Mainland China and Hong Kong (38.1%). For the January–March period, Taiwan recorded a trade surplus of USD 52.96 billion, with exports rising 51.1% and imports increasing 34.8%.

Taiwan’s trade surplus widened sharply to USD 12.77 billion in February 2026, from USD 6.63 billion in the same month a year earlier. However, the figure fell short of market expectations of USD 14.6 billion and marked the smallest surplus since September 2025. Exports grew 20.6% year-on-year to USD 49.8 billion, driven mainly by stronger sales of information, communication and audio-video products (38.7%) and electronic product parts (24.6%). Export growth was particularly solid to the US, surging 33.7% after a recent agreement that reduced US tariffs on many Taiwanese goods to 15%. Meanwhile, imports rose 6.8% year-on-year to USD 37 billion, largely due to higher purchases of electronic product parts (24%) and information, communication and audio-video products (81.9%). Import growth was strongest from Mainland China and Hong Kong (20.7%). For the January–February period, Taiwan recorded a trade surplus of USD 31.7 billion, with exports rising 44.5% and imports increasing 32.5%.

Taiwan’s trade surplus widened sharply to USD 18.89 billion in January 2026, from USD 10.06 billion in the same month a year earlier, exceeding market expectations of USD 16.7 billion. Exports soared 69.9% yoy to an all-time high of USD 65.77 billion, driven by strong sales across all categories, notably in information, communication, and audio-video products (129.8%), parts of electronic products (59.8%), and base metals and articles of base metals (22.3%). Exports to the US surged 151.8%, accounting for 32.4% of total exports, after a recent trade agreement between the US and Taiwan aimed at boosting American semiconductor production in exchange for lower tariffs. Meanwhile, imports soared 63.6% to USD 46.87 billion, led by higher purchases of all major categories, in particular electronic products (63.4%), information, communication, and audio-video products (254%), and machinery (14.9%). Import growth was strongest from Mainland China and Hong Kong (54.5%) and South Korea (75.9%).