Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/20/2020
By: Wu Po-wei and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, April 20 (CNA) Export orders received by Taiwan-based companies in March grew more than 40.4 percent from the previous month to US$40.26 billion despite the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said Monday.

That represents an increase of US$11.58 billion in export orders from February and year-on-year growth of 4.3 percent, the ministry said.

It also brings first quarter export orders to a total of US$104.24 billion, a 23.1 percent drop from fourth quarter export orders last year, and a year-on-year decrease of 3.5 percent, according to MOEA data.

Due to the global impact of COVID-19, the ministry forecast in February that export orders in the first quarter would be US$97.5-US$99 billion.    [FULL  STORY]