Taiwan export orders hit US$38.87 billion in April, up US$930 million, or 2.4 percent, on the previous month, buoyed by growth in electronics and chemicals, the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs said May 20.
Year on year, orders rose US$3.18 billion, or 8.9 percent, equal to a 10.3 percent rise in local currency terms, the MOEA said.
By industrial sector, electronics showed the biggest growth, up US$470 million, or 5 percent, on the month before to US$9.76 billion, and rising US$1.39 billion, or 16.6 percent, on the same month the previous year.
Chemicals were even more impressive in percentage terms, increasing 8.7 percent, or US$170 million, from March to US$2.14 billion.
Other sectors showed slight increases, except for precision machinery, where orders fell by US$110 million on the previous month.
In terms of export destinations, the largest growth was in orders to the U.S., which leaped US$790 million, or 9.3 percent, versus March.
Orders by mainland China, the nation’s biggest export destination, also showed a positive trend, increasing US$150 million, or 1.5 percent, month on month.
The figures continued the upward trend of the first three months of the year. Cumulative orders for the first four months stood at US$143.62 billion, up US$5.92 billion, or 4.3 percent, year on year.
Separately, the local media quoted MOEA Department of Statistics Director Lin Lee-jen stating that the riots in Vietnam would have little impact on next month’s orders, as most Taiwan enterprises operating or sourcing supplies from the country would be able to shift production or buy from other places. (SDH)