Taiwan’s computer manufacturing sector reached a total output of NT$189.5 billion (US$6.4 billion) in 2019, growing 72.1 percent year on year to the highest levels since 2004, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs July 15.
Servers performed best with a record high output of NT$94.2 billion, soaring 210.9 percent year on year. The items’ relative share of computer manufacturing also jumped from 27.5 percent in 2018 to 49.7 percent last year.
Portable computers such as laptops and tablets came in second at NT$53.7 billion, up 33.9 percent from 2018 and accounting for 28.3 percent of total output. This was followed by industrial computers at NT$36.1 billion, gaining 7.1 percent and comprising 19.1 percent of the overall sector.
The MOEA attributed this strong showing to local firms relocating their production facilities back to Taiwan since the second half of 2018 in response to the U.S-China trade war. This has been supported by several government initiatives targeting Taiwan companies, including the Action Plan for Welcoming Overseas Taiwanese Businesses to Return to Invest in Taiwan launched early last year, the ministry said.
According to the MOEA, demand for servers and portables is expected to remain high thanks to increases in homeschooling and remote working during the coronavirus pandemic. The development bodes well for Taiwan firms, the ministry said, citing double digit growth of 34.5 percent and 20.7 percent, respectively, for locally produced servers and laptops in the first five months of 2020. (SFC-E)
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