Export in Taiwan Feb beat forecasts because demand for chips jumps before fearing Trump’s tariff
By faith hung and Emily Chan
Taipei (Reuters) – The export of Taiwan grew more than expected in February, as demand for artificial intelligence technologies encouraged customers who tried to improve new tariffs proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Exports increased by 31.5% compared to the same month ago to $ 41.31 billion, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday, which is almost twice as much as 17.0%, which was forecast in the Reuters poll. Increase marked the 16th consecutive monthly increase.
Taiwanese companies like TSMC, the world’s largest contractual chip manufacturer, are the main suppliers of Apple, Nvidia and other technological companies.
“Some customers have ordered in front of the US tariff uncertainty,” the statement said in a statement, adding business opportunities for new applications of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) remained solid.
Trump imposed Tarife Kini, the largest trading partner in Taiwan, and considers the imposition of additional tariffs to the import of Taiwan.
Although the Ministry has said that Tariffs and other geopolitical risks represent quite ancestry for this year, AI and its applications are accelerated, supporting the overall momentum to export Taiwan.
Export gains are expected to persevere through the first and second quarters, the Ministry added.
He expected exports in March to fall by 1% and increase by 2% of the year.
In February, Taiwanese exports to China rose 27.9% against a contraction of 11.72% in the previous month.
Exports to the United States increased 65.6% annually to $ 11.77 billion, compared to a jump of 0.7% in January.
The total export of electronic components in Taiwan increased 24.6% in February in the year to $ 14.44 billion, and semiconductor exports are an increase of 24.6%.
Imports jumped 47.8% to $ 34.76 billion, better than an economist’s forecast for 19.2% winnings.
(Reporting Faith Hung and Emily Chan; Mounting Christian Schmollinger and Kim Coghill)
