Taiwan is likely to post the highest GDP per capita in East Asia, beating South Korea and Japan this year, South Korean monthly magazine BusinessKorea said in a report yesterday, citing the latest IMF estimate.
Taiwan’s GDP per capita is expected to increase to US$35,510 this year from US$33,140 last year, the report said.
That would put the nation’s GDP per capita above South Korea’s expected US$33,590 for the first time since 2003 and above Japan’s US$34,360 for the first time ever, it said.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, Bloomberg
South Korea’s GDP per capita is estimated to fall 4 percent this year, while that of Japan is to drop 12.6 percent from last year, the report said.
The report attributed Taiwan’s rapid GDP growth to the government’s intensive support of the local semiconductor industry.
It said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC, 台積電) sales in the third quarter were estimated to have exceeded Samsung Electronics Co’s for the first time, citing industry sources.
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, on Friday reported a record quarterly revenue of NT$613.14 billion (US$19.23 billion) for the third quarter, up 14.79 percent from the previous quarter and an increase of 47.85 percent from a year earlier.
Market researcher IC Insights last month estimated that Samsung’s third-quarter revenue would have dropped by 19 percent to US$18.29 billion due to a slump in the memorychip industry.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old