Taiwan November export orders log fastest growth in nearly 5 years on robust AI demand

By Faith Hung and Roger Tung

TAIPEI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan's export orders in November grew at their fastest pace in nearly five years, riding the wave of ongoing demand for AI technology heading into the year-end holidays.

Export orders rose 39.5% from a year earlier to $72.92 billion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Tuesday, beating analysts' expectations for a 30.1% gain.

The monthly growth, which was the 10th in a row of rising orders, marked the fastest pace since April 2021, the ministry added.

Orders for goods from Taiwan, home of the world's largest contract chipmaker TSMC 2330.TW, TSM.N and other tech companies, are considered a bellwether of global technology demand.

While investors have been concerned about the effects of newly imposed U.S. tariffs, solid technology demand has given Taiwan's shipments a solid boost, with semiconductors exempt from the Trump administration's duties.

For the full-year of 2025, export orders could top $700 billion, reaching a new record, the ministry has said.

For December, the ministry said it expected export orders to rise between 36.1% and 39.8% from a year ago.

A general tariff rate of 20% has been imposed on Taiwan's exports to the United States by President Donald Trump's administration. Taiwan's government has said the 20% tariff was temporary as it continues to negotiate with the U.S. for more favourable rates.

Uncertainties such as global trade policy and geopolitical risks continue to weigh on global trade momentum, the ministry said.

However it sees stable momentum for orders ahead, as new applications such as AI and high-performance computing continue to expand.

Taiwan's orders in November for telecoms products were up 69.4% from a year earlier, while those for electronic products jumped 47.9%.

Overall orders from China rose 17.6%, versus a 9.8% gain in October.

Orders from the United States surged 56.1%, following a 32.1% gain the month before. Orders from Europe were up 26.0%, and those from Japan rose 15.4%.