Taipei: Taiwan's exports in June reached a new monthly high of US$53.32 billion, marking a 33.7 percent increase from the previous year and the 20th consecutive month of growth, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) reported on Tuesday. Beatrice Tsai, director-general of the MOF's Department of Statistics, highlighted that growing prospects for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing continued to drive demand for related products.
According to Focus Taiwan, concerns over U.S. tariffs ahead of the expiration of their suspension on July 9 prompted customers to frontload shipments. Additionally, international mobile device brands and tech product makers are entering a new product stocking cycle, contributing to Taiwan's export growth.
Information and communication technology and audio/video product exports rose by 82.5 percent year-on-year to US$19.68 billion, driven by AI demands and tech product upgrades. Demand for advanced semiconductors led to a 31.1 percent increase in electronic component exports, reaching US$19.12 billion, which marked the highest growth rate in 39 months.
Base metals and optical and precision instruments reported growth of 11.8 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively. However, exports in the plastics/rubber, chemical, and textile sectors declined by 12 percent, 4.3 percent, and 13.6 percent, respectively.
By trade partner, Taiwan's exports to the United States hit a record monthly high of US$17.27 billion, showing a 90.9 percent year-on-year increase and marking the 23rd consecutive month of expansion. Exports to ASEAN countries, Japan, and China and Hong Kong also saw growth, while exports to European countries fell by 5.4 percent.
Taiwan's robust export performance to the U.S. was attributed to AI-driven demand and frontloaded shipments. Global supply chain restructuring, solid U.S. economic fundamentals, and policies encouraging the reshoring of manufacturing may have contributed as well. As a result, information and communication technology and audio/video products now account for 70 percent of Taiwan's exports to the U.S., compared with 24 percent in 2018.
Taiwan's trade surplus with the U.S. totaled US$55.23 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing its trade surplus with China and Hong Kong for the first time, which stood at US$35.96 billion. The U.S. and China (including Hong Kong) each accounted for 27.9 percent of Taiwan's total exports, marking a significant shift in export destinations.
Taiwan's largest trade deficit was with South Korea at US$16.3 billion over the past six months. Total exports for the year so far amounted to US$283.26 billion, an increase of 25.9 percent from the previous year, setting a record high for the period.