Taiwan's January Exports Rise for 27th Straight Month, Hit New High

Why It Matters

The unprecedented export momentum underscores Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global AI supply chain and boosts its fiscal resilience amid geopolitical tensions. Sustained demand from the U.S. and regional markets strengthens Taiwan’s trade leverage and economic outlook.

Key Takeaways

• Exports hit $65.77B, up 69.9% YoY
• 27 consecutive months of export growth
• AI-related tech drives export surge
• US remains top buyer, purchases $21.28B
• Trade surplus reaches $18.89B, up 87.7%

Pulse Analysis

Taiwan’s export surge in January reflects a confluence of macro‑economic trends and sector‑specific dynamics. The Ministry of Finance reported a 69.9% year‑on‑year increase, driven largely by high‑performance computing, cloud services and AI‑enabled devices. Information and audio/video products posted a 129.8% jump, while integrated‑circuit sales rose over 60%, highlighting the island’s deepening integration into the global semiconductor ecosystem. This growth streak, now in its 27th month, signals that Taiwan remains a critical node in the AI era supply chain.

The trade balance’s expansion to $18.89 billion, an 87.7% rise, offers a fiscal cushion as the island navigates heightened geopolitical scrutiny. The United States emerged as the largest buyer, with purchases soaring 151.8% to $21.28 billion, underscoring the strategic alignment of U.S. tech demand with Taiwanese manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, China, Hong Kong and ASEAN markets also posted robust gains, diversifying Taiwan’s export destinations and reducing reliance on any single region. This broad‑based demand supports domestic employment in high‑tech clusters and fuels downstream industries such as machinery and electrical equipment.

Looking ahead, sustaining the export momentum will require balancing rapid growth with supply‑chain resilience and policy support. While AI‑driven sectors are booming, slower recovery in plastics and rubber hints at sectoral imbalances that could surface if global demand softens. Taiwan’s government may need to bolster R&D incentives and invest in green manufacturing to maintain competitiveness. Moreover, external risks—including semiconductor market volatility and cross‑strait tensions—could temper future growth, making diversification and strategic partnerships essential for long‑term stability.

Taiwan's January exports rise for 27th straight month, hit new high

02/09/2026 07:46 PM · CNA

Taipei, Feb. 9 (CNA) – Taiwan's exports surged almost 70 percent from a year earlier to hit a new high in January, marking the 27th consecutive month of year‑on‑year increases during the current AI era, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Monday.

Data compiled by the MOF showed the country's exports rose 69.9 percent from a year earlier to US$65.77 billion in January, and imports also grew 63.6 percent to the second‑highest monthly level of US$46.87 billion, with a trade surplus of US$18.89 billion, up 87.7 percent.

Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜), director‑general of the MOF's Department of Statistics, said emerging technologies such as AI applications, high‑performance computing devices and cloud services continued to boost Taiwan's outbound sales in January. Tsai added that the strong showing also reflected a relatively low comparison base over the same period of last year, when the Lunar New Year holiday fell, reducing the number of working days.

Tech gadgets continued to dominate Taiwan's exports, with the information/information and audio/video industry reporting US$28.71 billion in outbound sales in January, up 129.8 percent from a year earlier, marking the 31st consecutive month of growth.

The electronic components industry generated US$22.36 billion in exports in January, up 59.8 percent from a year earlier, with integrated‑circuit suppliers reporting US$21.04 billion in sales, up 61.3 percent from a year earlier.

Major old‑economy industries also reported export growth, as machinery and electrical‑machinery manufacturers benefited from spillover effects from AI development. Exports in these sectors reached US$2.42 billion and US$1.42 billion in January, up 29.4 percent and 26.7 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

The base‑metal industry posted US$2.55 billion in exports in January, up 22.3 percent from a year earlier, while the mineral‑product industry also saw its exports rise 40.7 percent to US$1.12 billion.

Although major industries all reported export growth, Tsai said the strength remained uneven, with the plastics and rubber industry bouncing back at a relatively slow pace after excluding seasonal factors.

By country, the United States was the largest buyer of Taiwan's products, with purchases totaling the third‑highest monthly level of US$21.28 billion in January, up 151.8 percent from a year earlier on the back of an increase in information and communication devices during the current AI boom.

China and Hong Kong came in second after posting US$16.03 billion in exports in January, up 49.6 percent from a year earlier, followed by the ASEAN bloc, whose purchases hit a new high of US$13.40 billion, up 61.8 percent from a year earlier.

In January, exports to Europe hit a new high of US$5.35 billion, up 106.0 percent from a year earlier, while outbound sales to Japan totaled US$2.96 billion, up 37.2 percent from a year earlier.