The nation’s industrial production index rose 18.11 percent year-on-year to 113.53 last month, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related applications, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
The manufacturing production index, which comprises 94.63 percent of the industrial production index, increased 19.55 percent year-on-year to 114.22, the ministry said.
It was the 17th consecutive month of growth and at the lower end of the ministry’s forecast of 114.18 to 118.18, Department of Statistics Deputy Director-General Chen Yu-fang (陳玉芳) told a news conference in Taipei.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
In the first seven months of this year, the industrial and manufacturing production indices rose 16.85 percent and 18.02 percent from a year earlier respectively, the ministry said.
The manufacturing production index this month is expected to rise 9.6 to 13.5 percent annually, it said.
The ministry is cautious about growth next month and the remainder of the year, as the base period last year was relatively high, although AI demand and new consumer electronics are still expected to offer necessary support, Chen said.
The latest data showed electronic component production rose 29.52 percent and semiconductor production expanded 33.91 percent last month, the ministry said.
Production of computers, electronic goods and optical components grew 39.03 percent, driven by front-loading and AI demand. The ministry expects the potential launch of new consumer electronics by major brands to offer growth momentum next month, Chen said.
Flat panel and related component production decreased 2.98 percent, ending the growth trend since May, as declines in large-sized panels outweighed gains in medium and small-sized panels, the ministry said.
The data also reflected persistent weakness in traditional industries, with manufacturers mostly adopting a conservative, wait-and-see approach to business conditions.
Base metal production, mainly steel, fell 6.17 percent and chemical materials and fertilizers declined 4.29 percent amid weak demand and oversupply from China, Chen said.
Vehicle output also fell 2 percent as market demand remained weak amid tariff concerns, but machinery equipment production rose 7.62 percent, driven by demand for semiconductor production equipment amid chipmakers’ plant expansion plans, she added.
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