Taipei: Taiwan's export orders in February reached US$63.88 billion, marking a 23.8 percent increase year-on-year. This figure surpassed expectations, driven by a surge in demand for electronic and information and communications technology (ICT) products, according to an official announcement on Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the stronger-than-expected demand for semiconductors, memory chips, and servers significantly contributed to the growth in orders. Huang Wei-jie, head of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' (MOEA) Department of Statistics, noted that the MOEA had initially projected February export orders between US$56.3 billion and US$58.3 billion. This projection accounted for the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and geopolitical risks.
ICT products saw record-high export orders totaling US$47.87 billion in January and February, representing a 76.8 percent year-on-year increase. Electronic products also hit a record high of US$58.84 billion, up 50.7 percent, as reported by the MOEA.
In contrast, orders for optical instruments during the first two months of the year amounted to US$3.38 billion, reflecting a modest 2.1 percent year-on-year rise. Traditional industries showed mixed results, with machinery orders increasing 20.6 percent and basic metals rising 0.7 percent due to steady demand for copper foil and copper-clad laminate, both essential in semiconductor manufacturing.
The chemical and plastic/rubber sectors faced challenges, with orders declining 7.0 percent and 4.4 percent year-on-year, respectively, due to sluggish market conditions.
Looking forward, the Department of Statistics projects a 38.4 percent to 42.0 percent year-on-year increase in March export orders. First-quarter orders are anticipated to total between US$216.8 billion and US$218.8 billion, representing a 40.3 percent to 41.5 percent rise from the previous year.
Huang mentioned that ongoing Middle East conflicts and U.S. tariff uncertainties are expected to have short-term effects on prices. However, Taiwan's robust position in AI-related semiconductor and server supply chains is likely to ensure continued growth amid rising global AI infrastructure investment.