Exports rise 17.5% on sales to China

The country's exports rose 17.5 percent to US$11.82 billion last month as companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufact-uring Co (台積電) and BenQ Corp (明基電通) shipped more semiconductors and mobile phones to China, Europe and Japan.

The growth figure was slightly smaller than the 20.6-percent increase posted in December owing to fewer working days in the month, the Ministry of Finance said.

Imports were up 11.4 percent to US$10.58 billion, compared with a gain of 33.4 percent in December, the ministry said.

The trade surplus for last month rose 119.7 percent year-on-year to US$1.24 billion, compared with a 51.7 percent fall in December, it added.

Exports, which account for about two-fifths of the economy, are surging as consumer spending and factory production pick up in China.

The government predicts this month's growth will be about level provided Asia's bird-flu outbreak doesn't worsen, said Hsu Kuo-chung (許國忠), the ministry's statistics chief.

Exports to China and Hong Kong jumped 27 percent to US$4.2 billion, the ministry said. Shipments to Europe rose 23 percent to US$1.7 billion.

Exports of computer chips and other electronic products, which make up the biggest share of Taiwan's overseas sales, rose 37 percent to US$2.8 billion.