Taiwan's Export Orders Surge: A Strong Start to the Year

Driven by AI and Electronics, Taiwan's Economy Shows Robust Growth in Early 2025

Taipei, Taiwan - New data reveals a significant upswing in Taiwan's export orders during the first two months of 2025, signaling a strong start to the year for the nation's economy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) reported a combined 11.9 percent growth in export orders for January and February compared to the previous year.

February alone witnessed export orders totaling US$49.45 billion. This represents a 5.3 percent increase from January, a substantial 17 percent rise when seasonally adjusted, and a remarkable 31.1 percent year-on-year growth.

Key drivers of this growth were the information and communication technology (ICT) and electronics sectors. Export orders for information and communication products reached US$13.77 billion, reflecting a 31.8 percent year-on-year increase. Electronic products, a major component of Taiwan's export portfolio, totaled US$19.63 billion, demonstrating an impressive 48.6 percent growth.

The cumulative export orders for the first two months reached US$96.42 billion, underpinned by the robust performance of these key sectors.

Orders for information and communication products accumulated to US$25.83 billion during January and February, a 6.1 percent year-on-year increase, highlighting the sector's continued strength. According to the MOEA, this surge was primarily fueled by rising demand within the artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud service industries, which drove increased orders for servers and networking devices.

The electronic product sector experienced an unprecedented surge, with orders reaching US$37.35 billion in the first two months. This record-breaking figure represents a 21.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The Ministry attributes this to the ongoing expansion of business in AI and high-performance computing, leading to increased orders for integrated circuit (IC) design and manufacturing, as well as semiconductors from distributors.