CRIF: Led by Winbond and E Ink, Taiwan's Mid-sized Groups' Total Assets Reach Record NT$2.8 Trillion

Central News Agency (Reporter Lu Yen-tzu, Taipei, 14th) According to a report by CRIF Dun & Bradstreet, in 2024, Taiwan's mid-sized groups, led by stock king Winbond and stock queen E Ink, saw their total assets reach a new high of NT$2.8925 trillion, total revenue hit NT$1.8042 trillion, and net profit after tax reach NT$142.6 billion. All these figures, along with the number of invested companies, set historical records, with revenue growth rate and asset performance showing stronger and more impressive results compared to large groups. CRIF today released the results of its "2026 Taiwan Mid-sized Group Enterprise Study" survey, reviewing the operational status of Taiwan's mid-sized groups between 2018 and 2024. CRIF pointed out that in 2024, the global economy maintained a steady upward trend. According to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the global economic growth rate in 2024 was 3.2%, with Taiwan's 5.27% economic growth supporting the overall operational performance of mid-sized groups to reach new peaks. CRIF explained that in 2024, the number of invested companies by Taiwan's mid-sized groups reached a new high of 4,193, breaking the 4,000 mark for two consecutive years. In addition, total assets of NT$2.8925 trillion continued to expand, and total revenue of NT$1.8042 trillion and total net profit after tax of NT$142.6 billion both hit historical highs, driving revenue growth rate to 13.54%, asset growth rate to 10.43%, after-tax growth rate to 29.12%, and net profit margin to 7.91%, all increasing compared to 2023. CRIF stated that compared to large groups, which accumulate net profit through advantages in financial leverage, economies of scale, brand, and supply chain pricing, mid-sized groups stand out in revenue growth rate, asset turnover rate, and ROA (return on assets). This indicates that mid-sized groups' "efficiency and dynamism" in rapidly responding to the market and flexible asset allocation drive higher asset returns. As "chasers" and "innovators" in the market, high turnover rates drive excellent resource utilization capabilities. With the current growth pace and optimized cost control, they will have stronger competitive potential and room for profit upside. Examining the details of the continuously climbing number of invested companies, China, ASEAN, and the US-Canada-Mexico region are key areas. CRIF's survey found that if overseas invested companies in low-tax jurisdictions are excluded, the combined number of companies in the US-Canada-Mexico, China, and ASEAN regions is 1,309, accounting for nearly 70% of overseas invested companies. Among them, CRIF pointed out that mid-sized groups' investment in the China region has not abated, with total assets of NT$548.3 billion reaching a 10-year high, and total revenue of NT$451.5 billion also higher than the combined share of the ASEAN and US-Canada-Mexico regions. This shows that this region remains the main source of profit for mid-sized groups in the short term, supporting their steady expansion. In the ASEAN region, CRIF explained that the number of invested companies (383), total assets (NT$168.2 billion), total revenue (NT$128.3 billion), and net profit after tax (NT$5.9 billion) all reached 10-year highs. Comparing the performance of various countries, Singapore's net profit margin has been higher than the entire ASEAN region for three consecutive years, demonstrating its strategic backing for groups to strengthen global competitiveness; Vietnam's after-tax growth rate reached 96.04%, indicating that its production base has substantial profit potential; and investment in the Philippines has seen profits grow eightfold in the past three years, and in 2024, it became the largest source country for ASEAN tourists to Taiwan, all of which are key focuses for mid-sized groups to continue expanding their niche in the ASEAN region. CRIF stated that the survey found a trend of moving eastward to the US-Canada-Mexico region. The number of invested companies (235), total assets (NT$79.5 billion), and total revenue (NT$99.1 billion) in the three countries of the US, Canada, and Mexico are all 10-year highs, and total revenue and the number of invested companies significantly exceed the combined total of Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The 10-year compound annual growth rate of total revenue is as high as 9.61%, indicating that the eastward layout to the US-Canada-Mexico region, which is close to the end market, has long-term significance. CRIF explained that how to enter robotics, energy, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the future, transforming from supply chain followers to technology drivers, and avoiding low-price competition, will affect the future profit growth momentum of Taiwanese enterprises. CRIF pointed out that enterprises should deepen multilateral resilience, not just "eastward" or "southward," but establish a multilateral supply chain hub. This involves building strategic inventories or technical backup nodes in non-sensitive areas such as Mexico and Central and Eastern Europe, while also driving the upgrading of traditional industries to high value, combining Taiwan's electronic and material science advantages to develop smart materials or circular technologies with high technical barriers. CRIF stated that enterprises should transform from "invisible champions" to "ecosystem leaders," utilizing existing hardware advantages to penetrate upward into software definition and system integration, shifting from passively receiving orders to leading technical specifications and enhancing their voice. (Editor: Lin Chia-hsien) 1150414