Taiwan’s exports reached an unprecedented US$61.8 billion last month, rising 49.7 percent from a year earlier, as global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and new consumer electronics powered shipments of high-tech goods, the Ministry of Finance reported. It marks the first time the island’s exports have surpassed the US$60 billion threshold, reflecting a boom in AI development that has boosted Taiwanese firms across the international supply chain.
Beatrice Tsai, Director-General of the Department of Statistics, told reporters that the AI-driven upcycle is still in its early stages. “Taiwan’s exports are likely to expand another 35 to 40 percent in November, with a bright outlook for December,” she said. Cumulative exports have already exceeded US$500 billion this year, surpassing last year’s full-year total and ensuring that 2025 will comfortably exceed US$600 billion.
The growth was led by information, communications, and audiovisual products used in AI data centers, which soared 140 percent to a record high. Electronic components, mainly semiconductors, also advanced 27.7 percent, and together these two categories accounted for nearly 80 percent of total export growth.
Exports to the United States surged to US$21.14 billion, more than double the previous year, giving it a 34.2 percent share of total shipments—well ahead of China’s 23.2 percent. Tsai noted that Taiwanese firms are increasingly aligning with US partners in the fast-evolving AI ecosystem while reducing exposure to China. European markets also saw solid growth, with exports up 26.2 percent amid AI-related investments in countries including Finland and Ireland. ASEAN shipments rose 40 percent year-on-year, highlighting the region’s growing role in the technology supply chain.
Imports climbed 14.6 percent to US$39.22 billion, driven by activity within the AI supply chain. South Korean firms are supplying high-bandwidth memory chips that stack multiple DRAM dies to accelerate data transfer speeds. The surge in exports and imports contributed to a record trade surplus of US$22.58 billion last month.
For the first ten months of the year, Taiwan’s exports rose 31.8 percent to US$514.45 billion, while imports increased 21.3 percent to US$392.63 billion. Looking ahead, Tsai said exports are expected to remain supported by sustained AI and high-performance computing demand, the expansion of data center infrastructure, new product launches, and year-end holiday sales in Western markets. However, she cautioned that shifts in global trade policies and geopolitical tensions could pose risks to the momentum of Taiwan’s export growth.
