BEATING EXPECTATIONS:Ministry of Economics data show strong first-quarter exports on the back of recovering demand in key markets and rising prices

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 21, 2017
By: Lauly Li / Staff reporter

The nation’s export orders jumped 22 percent year-on-year to US$33.75 billion last month, driven by strong demand for notebooks, smartphones, TVs and servers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

The numbers exceeded the ministry’s own forecast of 15.7 percent growth by a wide margin and represented the seventh consecutive annual expansion, the ministry said.

“Last month’s export orders reflected persistent demand for information and communication technology [ICT] products during the traditionally slow season for consumer electronics,” Department of Statistics Director-General Lin Lee-jen (林麗貞) told a news conference.

Lin said that rising global average sales prices for raw materials contributed to the performances of the nation’s traditional industries, such as steel and petrochemical products.    [FULL  STORY]