TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s export orders climbed 19.5% in August to NT$1.81 trillion (US$60.02 billion), a record for the month, the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported Tuesday.

Cumulative orders for January–August totaled NT$13.74 trillion, up 21.1% from a year earlier, also a record, per CNA. Growth in August was fueled by AI servers and consumer electronics, with electronic product orders surging 39.5% to a monthly high, ICT products up 20.6%, and optical instruments rising 9.8%.

MOEA Department of Statistics head Huang Wei-chieh (黃偉傑) said AI demand remains the main growth driver, while new smartphone launches have boosted supply chain orders. However, he cautioned that earlier-than-expected shipments in the first half and pending US Section 232 tariff rulings could dampen momentum later this year.

Traditional industries face greater pressure, with August orders for basic metals down 9.3% and chemicals and plastics also declining. Huang noted that oversupply and price competition remain difficult to resolve, though China’s new steel capacity limits could ease global spillovers and benefit Taiwan’s steelmakers.

By market, US orders jumped 33.6% to a record NT$675 billion, driven by electronics, while ASEAN orders surged 40.3% to NT$324.5 billion, also a record. Japan also saw gains, but orders from China slipped 0.7% to NT$336 billion.

Looking ahead, the ministry forecasts September export orders of NT$1.94–NT$1.99 trillion, up as much as 22.7% year-on-year. With an average of NT$1.66 trillion a month needed through December, Taiwan is on track to set a full-year export record unless tariff risks and front-loaded shipments weigh on demand.