TAIPEI- Taiwan’s export orders likely rose in March for the 25th straight month, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, supported by sustained global demand for semiconductors and tech products.
The median forecast from a poll of 15 economists expects export orders to rise 15.5 percent from a year ago. Forecasts for growth ranged from 9.5 percent to as high as 25 percent.
The island’s export orders, a bellwether of global technology demand, leapt 21.1 percent from a year earlier to $51.56 billion in February, far outperforming expectations.
Taiwan’s export orders are a leading indicator of demand for hi-tech gadgets and Asian exports, and typically lead actual exports by two to three months.
The island’s manufacturers, including the world’s largest contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, are a key part of the global supply chain for technology giants including Apple Inc.
The data for March will be released on Wednesday.
