Taiwan Export Orders Reach New Record Peak

Orders for Taiwanese exports rose 23.8% year-on-year to a six-month low of USD 63.9 billion in February 2026, marking a sharp slowdown from the 60.1% surge recorded in the previous month. Growth in export orders moderated significantly across major categories, including electronic products (26.2% vs 78.6% in January), information and communication products (55.2% vs 102%), machinery (0.3% vs 40.6%), and other goods (3.3% vs 31.7%). In addition, several sectors posted outright declines, notably basic metals and related articles (-7.1% vs 8.8%), optical, photographic, and cinematographic equipment (-13.3% vs 18.6%), and electrical machinery products (-3.3% vs 34.8%). Meanwhile, outbound shipments declined at a softer pace for both transport equipment (-14% vs -55.6%) and mineral products (-6.5% vs -12.2%). By destination, export orders to the US surged 45.1%, followed by ASEAN (33.8%) and Japan (17.8%), while orders fell for Mainland China and Hong Kong (-0.2%) and Europe (-5.6%).

Orders for Taiwanese exports soared by 60.1% year-on-year to a new record peak of USD 76.9 billion in January 2026, exceeding market expectations of a 50.9% surge and accelerating from a 43.6% gain in December. The increase was largely driven by stronger growth in electronic products (78.6% vs 39.9% in December), information and communication products (102% vs 88.1%), machineries (40.6% vs 17.2%), and electrical machinery products (34.8% vs 11.6%). Moreover, export orders rebounded for chemicals (10.4% vs -0.4%), plastics and articles thereof, rubber and articles thereof (13.9% vs -8.2%), textile products (7.3% vs -13.5%), and basic metals and articles thereof (8.8% vs -2.5%). In contrast, export orders continued to fall sharply for transport equipment (-55.6% vs -2%), and slipped for mineral products (-12.2% vs 22.2%). By destination, export orders to the US soared 64.3%, while shipments to Europe jumped 56.1%, and orders to Mainland China and Hong Kong climbed 58.9%.

Orders for Taiwanese exports surged 43.8% year-on-year to a record USD 76.2 billion in December 2025, accelerating from a 39.5% gain in November. The increase was driven by stronger growth in information and communication products (88.1% vs 69.4% in November), machinery (17.2% vs 6.9%), electrical machinery products (11.6% vs 4.2%), and other categories (26.7% vs 21.8%), alongside rebounds in mineral products (22.2% vs -7.5%) and optical, photographic, and cinematographic apparatus (13.1% vs -2.4%). Meanwhile, declines moderated in transport equipment (-2.0% vs -5.7%), plastics and articles thereof (-8.2% vs -15.8%), and chemicals (-0.4% vs -12.5%). In contrast, electronic products (39.9% vs 47.9%) continued to rise, albeit at a softer pace. By destination, export orders to the US soared 55.3%, shipments to Europe climbed 47%, and orders to Mainland China and Hong Kong increased 15%.