‘TOUGH PERIOD’: The global smartphone market is reaching saturation and there is a longer replacement cycle, which negatively affects demand, an official said

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 21, 2019
By: Lisa Wang  /  Staff reporter

Export orders last month dipped at a deeper-than-expected monthly pace of 28 percent, attributable to slumping demand for iPhones and computers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

A quick and steep recovery in the first half of this year is not expected, the ministry said.

“The recovery will mostly happen in the second half, when global brands launch their new products,” Department of Statistics Director-General Lin Lee-jen (林麗貞) said by telephone.

“As the worldwide economy remains weak, this year will be a tough period for local exporters,” Lin said.    [FULL  STORY]