Taiwan’s Exports Soar to Record High, Fueled by Global AI Boom

TDT | Manama

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Taiwan’s export industry reached new heights in September, marking a record-breaking surge powered by the global hunger for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, according to official government data.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs reported that total exports climbed 30.5 percent year-on-year to US$70.2 billion, surpassing the previous record of US$67.9 billion set in December 2021. The impressive growth underscores Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global technology supply chain, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing — the backbone of AI innovation.

Electronics and information and communication technology products, including the semiconductors that drive AI systems, dominated Taiwan’s shipments last month. The ministry attributed the surge to soaring global demand for AI-driven hardware and infrastructure.

“Right now, the world is in an AI arms race,” said Wu Meng-tao, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. “Companies are competing not just on technological breakthroughs, but also on building strategic inventories.”

The export figures reflect Taiwan’s expanding global reach. Shipments to the United States rose by 40.2 percent to US$25.3 billion, while exports to Southeast Asia saw a dramatic 57.5 percent jump to US$14.7 billion. Even exports to China and Hong Kong — regions with fluctuating trade dynamics — climbed 11.6 percent to US$12.2 billion.

Taiwan currently produces over half of the world’s semiconductors, and nearly all of the most advanced ones, reinforcing its status as the epicenter of the AI revolution.

However, the island’s dominance in chip production continues to place it in a complex geopolitical spotlight, drawing intense interest — and pressure — from global powers, including the United States, which has sought to bolster domestic chip manufacturing while maintaining strong ties with Taiwan’s tech sector.

As the AI race intensifies, Taiwan’s technological edge is not only shaping the digital future but also redefining the global economic landscape.