Taiwan: Merchandise exports rise at a faster pace in September
Merchandise exports shot up 9.4% over the same month last year in September, following August’s 8.3% upturn. September´s result marked the most robust increase since February 2020. Meanwhile, merchandise imports plunged 5.4% over the same month last year in September (August: 8.6% year-on-year). Moreover, export orders—which typically lead actual exports by two to three months—soared 13.6% in August, the latest month for which data is available, following July’s 12.4% increase.
As a result, the merchandise trade balance improved, recording a USD 7.1 billion surplus in September (September 2019: USD 3.2 billion surplus). Lastly, the trend improved, with the 12-month trailing merchandise trade balance recording a USD 51.0 billion surplus in September, compared to the USD 47.0 billion surplus in August.