Export orders last month contracted by a slower-than-expected 3 percent year-on-year as demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) applications helped absorb a seasonal slowdown, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
Orders last month slid to US$46.97 billion from US$48.42 billion in January last year. The ministry had predicted orders would shrink at least 4 percent from a year earlier.
On a monthly basis, orders fell 11.2 percent from US$46.97 billion, ministry data showed.
Photo: CNA
“As strong AI and HPC applications continued to drive demand for electronics orders last month on an annual basis, the AI boom is not cooling down,” Department of Statistics Director Huang Yu-ling (黃于玲) said.
In addition, the ministry’s survey found that fewer firms were requested to ship goods ahead of schedule last month compared with the previous month as their customers seemed to be less worried about upcoming US tariffs, Huang said.
Export orders this month are expected to return to annual growth of between 15.3 percent and 20.6 percent to between US$43.5 billion and US$45.5 billion, the ministry said.
“We still expect an uptrend in the short term, though there are multiple uncertainties ahead in terms of geopolitical risks,” Huang said. “Export orders in January and February combined are expected to show year-on-year growth of between 5 and 7.3 percent.
Orders for electronic products last year increased 1.5 percent year-on-year to US$17.71 billion due to strong AI and HPC demand, despite declines in orders for chip designers and substrates, while orders for information and communications technology products dipped 13.3 percent to US$12.06 billion as demand for mobile phones and laptops dropped over the Lunar New Year holiday, the ministry said.
Orders for optoelectronic products edged 0.3 percent lower to US$1.58 billion last month, due to slower seasonal demand for back-light modules and camera lenses, the ministry said.
Orders for base metals plunged 21.7 percent to US$1.78 billion because of weak steel demand and price competition, while orders for machinery products and mechanical equipment dropped 4.7 percent to US$1.53 billion on sagging automation demand, it said.
Orders for plastic and rubber products sank 20.5 percent to US$1.32 billion as customers preordered ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, while orders for chemical products contracted 19 percent to US$1.22 billion due to intensifying competition from global peers, the ministry said.
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