HIGH SEASON: The finance ministry said it was not clear whether the US-China trade war might have caused the slowdown, while the economy ministry saw an opportunity
Taipei Times
Date: Sep 08, 2018
By: Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter
Exports rose a mild 1.9 percent from last year to US$28.3 billion last month, the weakest
Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai presents export data for last month at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Wu Chia-jung, Taipei Times
growth in nearly two years as demand for electronic components picked up, but short of what was forecast for the high season, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.
The critical economic gauge could slip into negative territory this month, due to fewer working days and a high comparison base last year, Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) said.
“Exports for this quarter will have difficulty meeting the government’s forecast after all, based on the showing thus far,” Tsai told a news conference in Taipei.
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics last month forecast that exports would increase 3 percent year-on-year to US$86.43 billion during the July-to-September period. [FULL STORY]
