Key insights
- Taiwan's February export orders missed expectations, rising 23.8% YoY versus the 25.5% forecast. While still positive, the slowdown, particularly a 0.2% dip in orders from China after a surge in January, and a decrease in orders from Europe, suggests potential headwinds for global tech demand. Given Taiwan's role as a tech bellwether, this could signal near-term caution for US tech equities, though strong orders from the US provide some offset.
TAIPEI, March 20 (Reuters) - Taiwan’s export orders rose less than expected in February, with demand for its AI and technology products losing momentum in the month that ended with the war in Iran raising the risk of trade disruptions.
Here are some details on the data: * Export orders in February rose 23.8% from a year earlierto $63.88 billion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said onFriday. That was below analysts’ expectations for a gain of25.5%, though it was also the 13th straight monthly gain. * Orders for goods from Taiwan, home of the world’slargest contract chipmaker TSMC and other tech companies, areconsidered a bellwether of global technology demand. * For March, the ministry said it expected export ordersto rise between 38.4% and 42% year-on-year. * Uncertainties such as global trade barriers andgeopolitical risks continue to weigh on global trade momentum,it said. * But the momentum for orders would be supported as newapplications such as AI and high-performance computing continueto expand, it added. * Taiwan’s orders in February for telecoms products wereup 55.2% from a year earlier, while those for electronicproducts jumped 26.2%. * Overall orders from China dipped 0.2% compared to a58.9% surge in January. * Orders from the United States rose 45.1%, after a surgeof 64.3% the month before. Orders from Europe were down 5.6%,and those from Japan rose 17.8%.