Taiwan Exports Soar to Record High

Exports from Taiwan climbed by 39% year-on-year to USD 67.62 billion in April 2026, slowing sharply from a 61.8% surge and falling well below market expectations of a 55% increase. Still, export growth remained solid, supported by sustained global demand for semiconductors and electronics, which helped offset disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. By sector, exports continued to be led by information, communication and audio-video products (62.3%), followed by electronic parts (38.9%) and machinery (12.9%). In contrast, shipments of base metals and articles of base metals (-0.4%) and chemicals (-4.3%) declined. All major trading partners saw increased exports, namely the US (63.8%), Mainland China and Hong Kong (15.8%), ASEAN (36.8%), Europe (64.2%), Japan (28.4%), and South Korea (39.3%). For the January–April period, total exports reached USD 263.35 billion, up 47.8% compared with the same period in the previous year.

Exports from Taiwan soared 61.8% year-on-year to an all-time high of USD 80.18 billion in March 2026, comfortably surpassing market expectations of 33.2% and accelerating from 20.6% in the previous month. The solid annual growth was primarily driven by a massive 134.5% surge in shipments of information, communication, and audio-video products, alongside parts of electronic products (44%) and machinery (16.3%). In contrast, shipments declined for both base metals and articles of base metal (-7.4%) and chemicals (-2.7%). Export growth was strongest to the US, where shipments skyrocketed 124% following a recent agreement that reduced US tariffs on many Taiwanese goods from 20% to 15%. Shipments also saw notable growth to Mainland China and Hong Kong (27.4%) and ASEAN (59.8%). Considering the first quarter of the year, total exports reached USD 195.74 billion, 51.1% higher compared to the same period last year.

Exports from Taiwan rose 20.6% year-on-year to a ten-month low of USD 49.8 billion in February 2026, sharply slowing from a sixteen-year high of 69.9% in the previous month and missing market expectations of a 28.8% gain. This marked the weakest annual growth since March 2025, weighed down by fewer working days due to the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, despite robust demand in the AI and cloud sectors. Meanwhile, investors will also be closely monitoring US trade policy and the escalating Middle East conflict. Shipments increased for information, communication, and audio-video products (38.7%), electronic product parts (24.6%), and machinery (10%). Export growth was strongest to the US, where shipments soared 33.7% following a recent agreement that reduced US tariffs on many Taiwanese goods from 20% to 15%. Considering the first two months of the year, Taiwan’s total exports reached USD 115.6 billion, up 44.5% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.