Exports totaled US$305.45 billion last year, up 1.4 percent from the year before, according to revised figures released by the Ministry of Finance yesterday.
The ministry also revised its figure for fourth-quarter exports by US$2.24 billion to US$78.83 billion, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s Web site.
QUARTERLY DROP
On Jan. 7, the ministry reported that exports last year grew 0.7 percent to US$303.22 billion from a year earlier, with exports for the October-to-December quarter dropping 1.1 percent year-on-year to US$76.59 billion.
The ministry said the adjustments were necessary because of delays in registering some export data in the government’s new CPT (customs, port and trade) single window system, which was launched on Oct. 7 last year.
TRADE SURPLUS
According to the latest figures, the nation enjoyed a trade surplus of US$35.38 billion last year, adding about US4.68 billion from a year earlier.
In addition, the nation’s trade surplus with China and Hong Kong totaled US$76.2 billion last year, US$39.8 billion less than the number recently reported by Chinese customs authorities.
The difference can be attributed to different methods used to calculate trade figures, the ministry said, adding that the numbers compiled by authorities in Taiwan are well accepted in the international community.
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