According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, benefiting from strong AI demand, Taiwan’s export orders in April reached US$87.45 billion, a 48.1 percent year-on-year increase, marking 15 consecutive months of growth. The head of the statistics division, Huang Weijie, said orders are expected to “exceed US$80 billion every month” through the end of the year.
According to the Central News Agency (CNA), Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs Statistics Department announced on the 20th that April export orders totaled US$87.45 billion, setting a record for the same month and ranking second-highest for any single month.
Cumulative export orders for January–April reached US$319.36 billion, a record high for the period, up 49.5 percent year-on-year.
Orders for information and communication products in April reached US$31.46 billion, up 89.7 percent year-on-year, driven by strong demand for AI applications and cloud data services, boosting server and networking equipment orders.
Electronic products totaled US$35.94 billion, up 45.9 percent, driven by continued demand for chip distribution channels, memory, and IC manufacturing. Orders from the United States increased by US$4.31 billion, while mainland China and Hong Kong increased by US$3.17 billion.
For the best of our weekly content！
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Check your email to complete sign up
In traditional industries, growth was supported by semiconductor capacity expansion, increased AI-related supply chain demand, and higher global crude oil and metal prices compared to the same month last year. As a result, orders rose across multiple sectors, including machinery (+23.4 percent), plastics and rubber products (+8.2 percent), base metals (+4.5 percent), and chemicals (+0.5 percent).
Huang Weijie noted that traditional industries have grown for two consecutive months, mainly due to AI-driven demand for electronic chemicals and metals, as well as front-loading of orders and stockpiling in March due to geopolitical risks and price increases.
United States remains top market
By region, the United States remained the largest source of orders, totaling US$32.92 billion, up 62.6 percent year-on-year. Southeast Asia reached US$17.9 billion (+61.7 percent), mainland China and Hong Kong US$15.27 billion (+29 percent), and Europe US$9.71 billion (+21.8 percent), CNA reported.
Huang explained that the rebound in orders from mainland China and Hong Kong was due to continued domestic demand and investment, which revived economic activity and demand for Taiwanese products. Demand for general-purpose servers in China has also gradually increased.
He added that recent policy adjustments in China to reduce exports of pig iron and crude steel have eased global low-price competition, stabilizing the order environment. Taiwan also saw a rebound in orders for IC design, automation equipment, and base metals.
Looking ahead, the Statistics Department said global economic growth remains constrained by geopolitical risks and trade barriers. However, emerging technology applications and global AI infrastructure investment continue to support Taiwan’s semiconductor and server supply chain orders.
For May, export orders are forecast at US$89–91 billion, potentially surpassing US$90 billion, with expected annual growth of 46.4 percent to 49.7 percent. Cumulative orders for the first five months are projected to reach US$408.4–410.4 billion, up 48.8 percent to 49.5 percent.
Huang said Taiwan could “likely exceed US$80 billion in monthly orders every month” through year-end.
Global impacts and economic context
Conflict in Iran and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have driven up global oil prices, disrupted supply chains, and weakened end-consumer demand. Global export orders are estimated to have suffered losses of at least US$25 billion, forcing companies to raise prices or cut production.
Mainland China, due to its diversified energy structure, large strategic oil reserves, and policy support, has been partially shielded from the direct impact of rising oil prices. However, higher fuel and transport costs globally, along with Western tariffs and sanctions on China’s “new trio” of green industries, are slowing export growth to Western markets. The UN estimates China’s 2026 economic growth will slow from 5.0 percent to 4.6 percent.
In Europe, soaring oil and gas prices due to Middle East conflict, combined with heavy reliance on imported energy, have significantly increased household and business costs. Higher global fuel prices have also raised travel and air/sea freight costs, further reducing export orders for consumer goods. The EU’s 2026 growth forecast has been revised down from 1.5 percent to 1.1 percent.
In the United States, 2026 growth is forecast at 2.0 percent, supported by strong domestic consumption and investment in high-tech sectors such as AI infrastructure, helping offset external trade weakness.