Taiwan's August export orders reach record high amid global AI demand

In August, Taiwan's export orders climbed to a record US$102.96 billion, exceeding the ministry's forecast and the July high of US$97.94 billion. The surge was fueled by heightened demand for AI servers and related chips, as major U.S. cloud providers develop application-specific integrated circuits. Electronics orders rose sharply, and the ICT industry more than doubled its year-on-year figure, together making up about 78 % of total orders.

Conversely, the optoelectronics sector fell as flat-panel demand stayed weak. Traditional sectors such as machinery, base metals, plastics, rubber, and chemicals also posted notable gains. The United States was the top market, accounting for US$42.13 billion in orders, with ICT product orders soaring. Officials expect monthly orders to stay near US$100 billion through the end of the year, putting the 2026 total near US$1.1 trillion.