Amid optimism over long-term artificial intelligence (AI) development, the Ministry of Finance has forecast that the momentum seen in Taiwan’s exports would continue into the second half of this year, with the total value expected to surpass US$850 billion this year.On Friday, the ministry released last month’s trade data showing that Taiwan’s outbound sales rose 32.9 percent from a year earlier to US$75.30 billion. In the first seven months, cumulative exports rose 44.7 percent from a year earlier to US$491.95 billion, data showed.Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) said that despite worries over an AI bubble, which had spooked global stock markets, Taiwanese suppliers stayed upbeat about their business outlook, with contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) raising sales growth guidance and upgrading its capital expenditure budget for this year to meet robust AI demand.
Shipping containers are pictured at the Port of Keelung on July 21.
AI would continue to create tremendous business opportunities for suppliers in Taiwan, and the long-term uptrend remains unchanged, Tsai said.In addition, Taiwan has entered the traditional peak export season and is expected to see momentum grow in the second half of this year, she added.
