The nation's exports last month strengthened on the back of growing demand from OECD nations and China's robust economic expansion, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.
Exports last month increased 10.4 percent year-on-year to US$19.76 billion -- the fourth highest on record, the ministry's data showed.
Sales to Hong Kong, China, the ASEAN and Europe all advanced by more than 13 percent. Exports to Japan also increased 9.7 percent, the data showed.
Meanwhile, imports last month climbed 8.5 percent to US$17.55 billion -- the fifth highest on record -- after nosediving 21.1 percent year-on-year to US$12.67 billion in February, Lee Li-shu (李麗雪), director of the ministry's statistics department, told reporters.
The growth in imports from the US and Europe both exceeded 20 percent, she added.
Trade last month resulted in a surplus of US$2.21 billion, up 28.4 percent from a year ago, marking the 13th month in a row the nation saw such strength in exports.
Imports of capital equipment last month rose 5.8 percent to US$160.3 million and those of consumer products edged up 2.8 percent to US$35.1 million, the figures showed.
The trade figures also showed increasing economic reliance on China and Hong Kong, with the two markets accounting for 41.6 percent, or US$8.23 billion, of Taiwan's total exports last month, Lee said.
"Companies exported more goods to China in March after shipments were delayed in February because of the Lunar NewYear holiday," said Fang Wen-yen, an economist at KGI Securities Co (中信證券).
Cumulative exports in the first quarter totaled US$54.45 billion, up 8.5 percent year-on-year. Imports during the same period grew 3.1 percent to US$48.18 billion.
The nation's exports of computer chips and other electronic parts climbed 9.8 percent to US$5.58 billion last month after falling 4 percent in February. Meanwhile, exports of information technology and telecommunications products fell 18.5 percent to US$714.2 million, after a 13 percent decline in February.
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