Taiwan April exports jump 30% ahead of U.S. tariffs, strong H1 seen

Reuters

Thu, May 8, 2025, 2:07 AM 2 min read

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's exports roseate much than expected successful April arsenic customers stockpiled the island's high-tech products earlier immoderate U.S. tariffs instrumentality effect, which could thrust first-half exports to a caller high.

Exports jumped 29.9% from the aforesaid period a twelvemonth agone to $48.66 billion, the second-highest monthly fig connected record, the Finance Ministry said connected Thursday. That exceeded a forecast of 16% successful a Reuters canvass and eclipsing March's 18.6% rise, resulting successful the 18th consecutive monthly gain.

Taiwan firms specified arsenic TSMC,, the world's largest declaration chipmaker, are large suppliers to Apple, Nvidia and different tech companies.

April exports benefited from continued beardown artificial quality request arsenic customers placed orders successful beforehand successful anticipation of the U.S. tariff measures, the ministry said successful a statement.

"Export worth successful the archetypal fractional has a bully accidental of hitting a record," the ministry said, but added determination could past beryllium a slowdown successful the second-half, flipping connected its caput the accustomed signifier of a stronger backmost extremity to the twelvemonth arsenic exporters cogwheel up for the vacation play successful Western markets similar the United States.

The ministry besides warned that U.S. tariff uncertainty and geopolitical risks could hinder the planetary economical outlook.

For May, the ministry expects exports to emergence betwixt 15% and 20% year-on-year.

In April, Taiwan's exports to the United States roseate 29.5% year-on-year to $13.145 billion, versus a 39.9% surge successful the anterior month.

Exports to China, Taiwan's biggest trading partner, climbed 22.3%, aft rising 12.6% successful March.

Taiwan's full exports of physics components climbed 26.8% successful April connected the twelvemonth to $16.407 billion, with semiconductor exports up 28.2%.

Imports roseate 33.0% to $41.46 billion, higher than economists' forecasts of a summation of 18.9%.

(Reporting by Faith Hung and Roger Tung; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Ben Blanchard)