Key Points
- Taiwan’s export orders surged by 30.5% in September, much higher than expected. This is the eighth consecutive month of growth.
- The boom is being driven by massive global demand for AI and high-tech products.
- The strong growth is happening despite a 20% U.S. tariff on Taiwanese goods.
- Full-year export orders for Taiwan are now expected to hit a new record.
Taiwan’s export orders jumped far more than expected in September, soaring by 30.5% from a year ago. The impressive growth, which marks the eighth straight month of increases, shows that the island’s booming AI industry is powerful enough to overcome the headwinds of U.S. tariffs and global trade uncertainty.
The September numbers, which came in at $70.22 billion, blew past analysts’ forecasts of a 17.8% rise. This is a big deal because Taiwan’s export orders are seen as a key indicator of global demand for technology. The island is home to TSMC, the world’s most important chipmaker, and a host of other major tech companies.
The surge was driven by massive demand for electronic products, which jumped nearly 46%, and telecommunications products, which increased by 33%. Orders from the United States were particularly strong, climbing by over 40%. Even orders from China, which have been weak, bounced back with an 11.6% increase.
This is all happening despite the 20% tariff that the Trump administration has placed on most Taiwanese goods. While Taiwan’s government is still negotiating for a better deal, the latest data shows that for now, the AI boom is more than making up for the tariff drag.
With the fourth quarter typically being a strong season for tech ahead of the holidays, Taiwan’s economy ministry is now expecting that full-year export orders will likely hit a new record.
