■ Trade with China grows
Indirect trade between Taiwan and China in the five months to May rose 14.3 percent from a year earlier to US$33.89 billion despite lingering hostility between the two rivals, the Bureau of Foreign Trade said yesterday.
The figure accounted for 20 percent of Taiwan's total external trade in the month, compared with 19.4 percent a year earlier, it said, citing statistics compiled by Taiwan and Hong Kong customs.
For the January-May period, Taiwan registered a trade surplus with China of US$15.13 billion, up 10.7 percent as exports rose 13.2 percent to US$24.51 billion and imports increased 17.4 percent to US$9.38 billion.
For the five months, shipments to China accounted for 27.9 percent of Taiwan's total exports, compared with 27.7 percent a year earlier, the bureau said.
Imports from China during the period accounted for 11.5 percent of Taiwan's total imports, up from 10.7 percent, the bureau added.
■ Russian reserves pip Taiwan
Russia's foreign currency and gold reserves have surged to a record US$262.9 billion, passing Taiwan's to become the world's third-largest as oil and gas prices hover near all-time highs.
China held US$941.1 billion on July 21, followed by Japan at US$844 billion. Taiwan held US$260.4 billion.
■ NT dollar stronger
The New Taiwan dollar climbed NT$0.093 against the greenback yesterday to close at NT$32.756 on the Taipei foreign exchange market. Turnover was US$783 million.
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