The nation's exports are expected to reach a four-year high of US$162.67 billion this year, 12.75 percent up from last year, according to a report released yesterday by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Foreign Trade.
Imports are expected to hit US$14.96 billion, 17.61 percent more than last year, the report, which was researched by the Chunghua Institution for Economic Research (中經院), said.
The recovery of the global economy led by the US seems to be continuing despite terrorist attacks recently. As a result, the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecast that the global economy will grow 4.4 percent this year.
The ministry on Tuesday that export orders last month increased 34.7 percent to NT$500.60 billion (US$15.04 billion). The figure was NT$463.99 billion (US$13.94 billion) in January.
The ministry has previously predicted that export orders, an indicator for future shipments in one to three months, might increase by double digits during the first half of the year.
But political instability following Saturday's presidential election "will somewhat affect the economy," said Chang Yaw-tsong (
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