Chips and servers lift Taiwan's exports to a record US$96.76 billion

Taiwan's October exports jumped 58.9% from a year earlier to a record US$96.76 billion as demand for AI data centers lifted sales of semiconductors and servers. Exports rose 58.9% from a year earlier and 10.9% from September, the 36th consecutive month of annual growth.

Two product categories accounted for about 83% of the total. Exports of information, communications and audiovisual products rose 72.9% to US$47.60 billion, and electronic components rose 61.4% to US$32.68 billion. Integrated circuits alone brought in US$31.17 billion, up 63%.

Exports are also driving the wider economy. Taiwan's statistics agency estimates that real GDP grew 14.36% year on year in the third quarter, the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, as exports and capital formation exceeded its earlier expectations. Imports of capital equipment, measured in Taiwan dollars, rose 58.5% in the quarter, including a 35.66% increase in semiconductor equipment, as manufacturers bought machinery and added capacity to meet orders.

Imports also hit a record in October, rising 75.1% to US$68.89 billion, as manufacturers bought more imported components, materials and equipment. The merchandise trade surplus came to US$27.88 billion.

Shipments to the United States reached a record US$32.93 billion in October, 34% of the total. Over the first ten months, the US share rose to 31.7%, its highest for the period in 36 years, and Southeast Asia's share reached 20.1%. The combined share of China and Hong Kong fell to 23.8%, although shipments there continued to grow.

Some traditional industries grew too. Machinery exports increased 35.5% in October, helped by semiconductor production equipment, and base-metal exports rose 35.7%.

Exports for the first ten months totaled US$758.29 billion, up 47.7%. The finance ministry forecasts November shipments of US$94.2–96.7 billion.