On strong demand from China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries, Taiwan's exports in May rose 20.5% from a year earlier to US$23.60 billion, the ministry of finance said June 9. The figure compared with a 14% rise to $22.59 billion recorded in April.
Exports to China and Hong Kong rose 23.5% year-on-year to $9.64 billion. Exports to Japan rose 23.% to $1.51 billion, while exports to the U.S. fell 3.6% to $2.57 billion.
Imports in May rose 17.6% from a year earlier to $21.38 billion. But that was lower than April's $21.59 billion, which represented a year-on-year increase of 17.7%.
Taiwan posted a trade surplus of $2.21 billion in May, compared with $998.7 million in April.
In May, exports of mechanical and machinery products rose 9.8% from a year ago to $10.02 billion and exports of electronic products gained 12.8% to $5.54 billion.
Also in May, exports to China and Hong Kong rose 23.5% year-on-year to $9.64 billion. Exports to Japan rose 23.% to $1.51 billion, while exports to the U.S. fell 3.6% to $2.57 billion.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008
