Taiwan’s export orders rose 9.18 percent in June year on year to US$37.36 billion on the back of rising demand for information and communication technology products, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs July 20.
“The popularity of smartphones and other mobile devices worldwide is boosting Taiwan’s ICT exports,” said Beatrice Tsai, deputy director-general of the MOEA’s Department of Statistics.
“Expanding production in emerging markets is also creating greater demand for Taiwan’s machinery shipments.”
Tsai said mainland China continues to be Taiwan’s main source of orders, accounting for 25.2 percent, or US$9.42 billion. The U.S. follows at 23.6 percent for a record high US$8.81 billion, while Europe comes in third at 17.9 percent, or US$6.68 billion.
Although Taiwan’s six major trading partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ranked fourth with a 10.7-percent share, they registered the fastest growth rate of 19.59 percent year on year.
Japan was the only region that placed fewer orders during the month as it continues to struggle in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The 15.94-percent annual decline was the steepest retreat in nearly two years.
Despite these solid performances, June export orders were down 2.36 percent in terms of New Taiwan dollars. This was the first decline since October 2009, stemming from the local currency’s 11.9-percent year-on-year appreciation against the greenback.
According to a recent MOEA survey, local firms are generally optimistic on export orders in both July and the third quarter. “But a number of uncertainties loom over the traditional high season for Taiwan’s ICT and electronic components sectors,” Tsai added.
These variables include the patent war between Apple Inc. and Taiwan’s HTC Corp., fallout from the European debt crisis and the U.S. Congress stalemate over the government’s debt ceiling, she said.
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw