Taiwan Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecasts

2026-02-09 08:17 By Czyrill Jean Coloma 1 min. read

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%).



News Stream
Taiwan Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecasts
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%).
2026-02-09
U.S. & Taiwan Seal Trade Pact to Bolster Chip Output
The U.S. and Taiwan signed a trade agreement on Thursday to boost American semiconductor production in exchange for lower tariffs. Under the arrangement, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will build several new factories in Arizona as part of a USD 250 billion U.S. investment, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In return, the U.S. will cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15% from 20% and exempt chipmakers like TSMC that expand operations in America. The treaty adds to recent agreements with the European Union and Japan.
2026-01-15
Taiwan Trade Surplus Widens Sharply in December
Taiwan’s trade surplus widened to USD 19.43 billion in December, up from USD 6.10 billion a year earlier and exceeding market expectations of USD 16.1 billion. Exports surged 43.4% year-on-year to USD 62.48 billion, led by robust shipments of information, communication, and audio-video products (+126.3%) and electronic parts (+24.1%). Exports to major trading partners rose sharply, including a surge to the US (+125.9%), Europe (+54.5%), Japan (+26.2%), ASEAN (+20.3%), China and Hong Kong (+11.3%). Imports increased 14.9% to USD 43.04 billion, driven by higher purchases of electronic parts (+23.3%), information and audio-video products (+100.9%), and machinery (+15.1%). Import growth was strongest from ASEAN (+31.2%), Korea (+18.7%), China and Hong Kong (+15.3%), Japan (+9.3%), and the US (+8.3%). For the whole of 2025, the trade surplus reached USD 157.14 billion, with exports increasing by 34.9% and imports rising by 22.6% year on year.
2026-01-09