IN THE BLACK:The precision instrument segment saw an annual increase of 1.8% to US$2.19 billion last month, ending 24 consecutive months of annual declines

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 21, 2016
By: Lauly Li / Staff reporter

The nation’s export orders grew at a better-than-expected annual rate of 7 percent to US$43.62 billion last month, mainly driven by robust demand for consumer electronics during the Christmas holiday season, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

The figure represents the fourth consecutive month of annual growth. The increase exceeded the ministry’s estimate of 2.6 percent to 5 percent.

“The strong and positive market movements on smartphones, notebooks, TVs, game consoles and servers were the growth drivers last month,” Department of Statistics Director-General Lin Lee-jen (林麗貞) told a news conference.    [FULL  STORY]