TAIPEI: Taiwan’s exports in March rose 16.7 percent from a year earlier to US$29.99 billion as global demand remained strong, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Monday.
The March export figures returned to positive territory after posting a slight year-on-year decline in February, when there were fewer working days as a result of the six-day Lunar New Year holiday.
Taiwan experienced export growth to all of its main markets in March, with outbound sales up 30.9 percent year-on-year to China and Hong Kong, 1.6 percent to Southeast Asia, 18.8 percent to Japan, 4.3 percent to the United States, and 15.1 percent to Europe.
Most of Taiwan’s main export commodities also posted year-on-year growth in March.
Electronic parts exports rose 21.5 percent, information and communication product sales were up 3.4 percent, base metal exports rose 18.6 percent, machinery exports gained 27.2 percent and outbound sales of plastics/rubber materials rose 16.9 percent.
For the first quarter, Taiwan’s exports totaled US$79.74 billion, up 10.6 percent from a year earlier, the data showed.
Imports in March, meanwhile, increased 10.4 percent year-on-year to US$23.99 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of US$6 billion.
