《TAIPEI TIMES》Exports hit record on 41% rise

Taiwan's record US$82.4 billion in exports last month, a 41 percent year-on-year increase, underscores the accelerating global demand for AI infrastructure. The Ministry of Finance noted that semiconductors and servers were primary drivers, with AI's influence spreading rapidly across technology sectors. This performance not only exceeded official forecasts but also points to Taiwan's deepening integration and importance within the global AI supply chain, particularly for key components. The concentration of growth in information, communications, and audiovisual products, along with electronic components, which together made up 78.7 percent of total exports, shows how central Taiwan is to AI's expansion. The surge also reflects an increasingly international division of labor in AI supply chains, with Taiwan importing more components, including memory chips from South Korea. This suggests that while Taiwan is a major exporter of finished AI-related goods, its manufacturing relies on a complex network of regional suppliers. The Ministry of Finance expects this strong export momentum to continue through the end of the year, with monthly exports potentially averaging US$83 billion in the fourth quarter. The thing to watch is how persistent this AI-driven demand remains, especially if global economic conditions shift or if supply constraints, which are currently supporting prices, ease significantly.