Taiwan Trade Surplus Misses Expectations

Taiwan’s trade surplus widened to USD 14.35 billion in April 2026 from USD 7.4 billion in the same month of the previous year, but missed market expectations of USD 19.1 billion. Exports soared 39% year-on-year to USD 67.62 billion, mainly driven by higher sales of information, communication and audio-video products (62.3%) and parts of electronic products (33.7%). Among major trading partners, shipments rose strongly to the US (63.8%), as well as Mainland China and Hong Kong (15.8%) and ASEAN (36.8%). Meanwhile, imports increased 29.2% from a year earlier to USD 53.27 billion, primarily due to higher purchases of parts of electronic products (61.3%) and information, communication and audio-video products (33.2%). Import growth was strongest from Mainland China and Hong Kong (28.6%), ASEAN (52.9%) and South Korea (78.3%). For the January–April period, the country’s trade surplus reached USD 67.3 billion, with exports surging 47.8% while imports rose 33.2%.

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%.