Taiwan continues to break economic records with its record trade surplus in the first half of 2025. The Ministry of Finance announced Tuesday that the surplus hit NT$1.62 trillion (US$55.7 billion). That marks the highest level in Taiwan’s history for any six-month period.
Exports soared to US$283.26 billion, rising 25.9% year-on-year. This surge marks the strongest export performance ever recorded for the first half of the year. Imports also rose but at a slower pace, which helped widen the record trade surplus by US$19.6 billion over last year’s figure.
In June alone, Taiwan saw a surplus of US$12.07 billion. That figure is more than double the US$4.7 billion recorded in June 2024. The second quarter saw exports total US$153.71 billion, also setting a new high. This milestone continues a 20-month streak of export growth.
Tsai Mei-na, Director of the MOF’s Department of Statistics, highlighted Taiwan’s strong regional performance. She pointed out that Taiwan outpaced all of its Asian Tiger peers. Hong Kong’s exports rose 16.1%, Singapore’s by 8.2%, while South Korea saw no growth.
The United States emerged as Taiwan’s biggest export destination. Exports to the US jumped 51.4% in the first half. In June, the US accounted for 32.4% of all outbound shipments from Taiwan.
Meanwhile, exports to China increased only 12.7%, totaling US$36 billion for the half-year. This change boosted Taiwan’s surplus with the US to US$55.2 billion. That number is almost US$20 billion more than the surplus with China. Tsai said it’s too early to predict if this trend will continue through year-end.
Other markets also performed strongly. Shipments to ASEAN rose 31.4% and made up 20% of Taiwan’s total exports. Exports to South Korea rose 25.9%. Trade with Mexico more than doubled, also setting new highs.
Taiwan’s booming exports continue to power its economy. As demand grows in the US, ASEAN, and Mexico, the record trade surplus reflects Taiwan’s global trade strength.
