AI Supply Chain Advantage Soars, Taiwan's Export Prices Hit 47-Year High in April
Taiwan's export price index in April recorded an 18% year-on-year increase in USD terms, the largest rise in 47 years, driven by the country's AI supply chain advantages. This reflects the strong demand for AI, leading to higher prices for electronic products.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:22
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 20:32 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 20:41 (9 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, May 7) Leveraging its advantages in the semiconductor and electronic information and communication industries, Taiwan plays a key role in the global AI supply chain, which is reflected in recent export price performance. Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) indicate that the export price index in USD terms rose by 18% year-on-year in April, the largest increase in 47 years, highlighting strong AI demand driving up prices for electronic products.
Despite the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East this year, the government and domestic think tanks remain optimistic about the economic outlook, all expecting economic growth to exceed 7% this year. The reason is Taiwan's benefit from strong AI demand, coupled with the strong advantages of the chip and electronic information and communication industries, driving both export and investment engines to full throttle.
In addition to the annual economic growth forecast, the DGBAS's price situation announced today also reveals the impact of the AI craze.
DGBAS specialist Cao Zhi-hong pointed out that after the recent outbreak of Middle East conflicts, external parties paid attention to the impact on import prices. In April, the import price index in NTD terms increased by 9.22% year-on-year, mainly driven by 'mineral products' and 'machinery, electrical and television imaging equipment and parts.' The former rose by 24.55%, contributing 3.23 percentage points to the import price index, while the latter rose by 9.73%, contributing 5.1 percentage points.
Cao Zhi-hong then explained that the Middle East conflict affected energy prices, which in turn pushed up mineral product prices, but its upward push on import prices was only about one-third, and mineral products are one of the intermediate input production costs, not all of which will be passed on to the CPI; 'machinery, electrical and television imaging equipment and parts' accounted for more than half of the total index impact, mainly affected by the AI craze.
Cao Zhi-hong pointed out that AI demand is stronger than expected, and recent media reports have also shown a wave of price increases for memory and electronic-related products. Although rising import prices mean increased costs for manufacturers, Taiwan's electronic product export prices have simultaneously climbed, benefiting from strong AI demand. The export price index in NTD terms increased by 14.49% year-on-year, the largest increase in nearly four years, and the export price index in USD terms soared to its largest increase in 47 years.
Cao Zhi-hong added that rising export prices are good for manufacturers, which also echoes the recent AI craze. Taiwan's AI-related industry export data and other figures are quite impressive. Furthermore, the correlation between export prices and consumer prices, which directly affect the public, is limited. (Edited by: Pan Yi-ching)
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, May 7) Leveraging its advantages in the semiconductor and electronic information and communication industries, Taiwan plays a key role in the global AI supply chain, which is reflected in recent export price performance. Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) indicate that the export price index in USD terms rose by 18% year-on-year in April, the largest increase in 47 years, highlighting strong AI demand driving up prices for electronic products.
Despite the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East this year, the government and domestic think tanks remain optimistic about the economic outlook, all expecting economic growth to exceed 7% this year. The reason is Taiwan's benefit from strong AI demand, coupled with the strong advantages of the chip and electronic information and communication industries, driving both export and investment engines to full throttle.
In addition to the annual economic growth forecast, the DGBAS's price situation announced today also reveals the impact of the AI craze.
DGBAS specialist Cao Zhi-hong pointed out that after the recent outbreak of Middle East conflicts, external parties paid attention to the impact on import prices. In April, the import price index in NTD terms increased by 9.22% year-on-year, mainly driven by 'mineral products' and 'machinery, electrical and television imaging equipment and parts.' The former rose by 24.55%, contributing 3.23 percentage points to the import price index, while the latter rose by 9.73%, contributing 5.1 percentage points.
Cao Zhi-hong then explained that the Middle East conflict affected energy prices, which in turn pushed up mineral product prices, but its upward push on import prices was only about one-third, and mineral products are one of the intermediate input production costs, not all of which will be passed on to the CPI; 'machinery, electrical and television imaging equipment and parts' accounted for more than half of the total index impact, mainly affected by the AI craze.
Cao Zhi-hong pointed out that AI demand is stronger than expected, and recent media reports have also shown a wave of price increases for memory and electronic-related products. Although rising import prices mean increased costs for manufacturers, Taiwan's electronic product export prices have simultaneously climbed, benefiting from strong AI demand. The export price index in NTD terms increased by 14.49% year-on-year, the largest increase in nearly four years, and the export price index in USD terms soared to its largest increase in 47 years.
Cao Zhi-hong added that rising export prices are good for manufacturers, which also echoes the recent AI craze. Taiwan's AI-related industry export data and other figures are quite impressive. Furthermore, the correlation between export prices and consumer prices, which directly affect the public, is limited. (Edited by: Pan Yi-ching)