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Taiwan trade in 2024

In 2024, Taiwan exported $577 billion and imported $359.2 billion, a trade surplus of $217.8 billion. It was the world's 9th-largest exporter, with 2.5% of world exports. Its top export was microchips (40.9% of the total) and its main trading partner was China (19.5% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$577billion
Imports
$359.2billion
Trade balance
+$217.8billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Microchips (40.9%) and computers (10.4%) together make up 51.2% of its exports.

  1. Microchips$235.7 billion · 40.9%
    Main partner: China
  2. Computers$59.7 billion · 10.4%
    Main partner: United States
  3. Computer and office machine parts$48 billion · 8.3%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Cameras and broadcast equipment$28 billion · 4.9%
    Main partner: China
  5. Refined petroleum$9.1 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: Australia
  6. Discs and storage media$8.2 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Other industrial machines$7 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: China
  8. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$6 billion · 1%
    Main partner: China
  9. Screws, bolts and nuts$5 billion · 0.87%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Printed circuit boards$5 billion · 0.87%
    Main partner: China

What it imports

Microchips (21.2%) and crude petroleum (7.9%) together make up 29% of its imports.

  1. Microchips$76.2 billion · 21.2%
    Main partner: South Korea
  2. Crude petroleum$28.2 billion · 7.9%
    Main partner: Saudi Arabia
  3. Other industrial machines$18.5 billion · 5.1%
    Main partner: Japan
  4. Natural gas and LPG$12.5 billion · 3.5%
    Main partner: Australia
  5. Coal$9.2 billion · 2.6%
    Main partner: Australia
  6. Cars$8.1 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: Germany
  7. Computers$7.4 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: China
  8. Computer and office machine parts$7.4 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: China
  9. Refined petroleum$7.1 billion · 2%
    Main partner: Russia
  10. Cameras and broadcast equipment$6.3 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: China
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$309.4 billion$112.8 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$134.7 billion$51 billion
39 · Plastics$19.1 billion$8.1 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$13.5 billion$14.2 billion
87 · Vehicles$10.8 billion$11.6 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$9.5 billion$57.5 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$8.6 billion$7.9 billion
72 · Iron and steel$8.6 billion$9.6 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$8 billion$2.5 billion
74 · Copper$4.3 billion$7.6 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$3.4 billion$5.6 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$3.3 billion$485 million
40 · Rubber$2.8 billion$1.3 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$2.7 billion$5.1 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$2.7 billion$876 million
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$2.4 billion$431 million
94 · Furniture and lighting$2.2 billion$1.3 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$2.1 billion$316 million
60 · Knitted fabric$1.9 billion$34 million
70 · Glass$1.9 billion$1.5 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$1.7 billion$2.9 billion
76 · Aluminum$1.7 billion$2.6 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$1.6 billion$1.5 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$1.6 billion$1.9 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$1.2 billion$1.2 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$1 billion$5.7 billion
26 · Ores and slag$872 million$3.7 billion
21 · Food preparations$832 million$1.2 billion
59 · Coated and technical textiles$827 million$206 million
37 · Photographic goods$744 million$1.7 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$682 million$856 million
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$666 million$1.6 billion
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$604 million$167 million
89 · Ships and boats$600 million$636 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$590 million$540 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$518 million$309 million
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$488 million$549 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$446 million$26 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$435 million$199 million
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$415 million$3.6 billion
75 · Nickel$403 million$1.2 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$391 million$318 million
22 · Beverages and spirits$345 million$1.5 billion
49 · Books and printed matter$329 million$140 million
97 · Art and antiques$311 million$116 million
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$305 million$740 million
42 · Leather goods and bags$283 million$1.1 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$274 million$738 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$271 million$125 million
24 · Tobacco$254 million$404 million
61 · Knitted clothing$249 million$1.5 billion
64 · Footwear$247 million$961 million
52 · Cotton$233 million$149 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$225 million$32 million
81 · Other base metals$217 million$698 million
92 · Musical instruments$197 million$63 million
05 · Other animal products$194 million$156 million
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$191 million$602 million
31 · Fertilizers$189 million$285 million
41 · Hides and leather$180 million$75 million
62 · Woven clothing$170 million$1.1 billion
15 · Fats and oils$157 million$646 million
23 · Animal feed and food waste$155 million$782 million
16 · Prepared meat and fish$148 million$362 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$141 million$434 million
69 · Ceramics$130 million$772 million
65 · Hats$127 million$67 million
44 · Wood$125 million$1.2 billion
78 · Lead$116 million$126 million
10 · Cereals$110 million$1.6 billion
80 · Tin$107 million$300 million
79 · Zinc$106 million$605 million
25 · Salt, stone and cement$105 million$1.1 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$101 million$418 million
47 · Wood pulp$99 million$683 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$99 million$1 billion
07 · Vegetables$89 million$374 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$68 million$1.7 billion
66 · Umbrellas and canes$56 million$31 million
86 · Railway equipment$39 million$498 million
11 · Milling products and malt$31 million$375 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$27 million$87 million
51 · Wool$24 million$26 million
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$23 million$781 million
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$13 million$166 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$10 million$50 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$9 million$12 million
53 · Other plant fibers$7 million$4 million
01 · Live animals$6 million$16 million
02 · Meat and offal$6 million$2.1 billion
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$5 million$6 million
45 · Cork$5 million$4 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$4 million$8 million
14 · Other plant products$4 million$32 million
36 · Explosives and matches$3 million$32 million
50 · Silk$874 thousand$2 million

Trading partners

Its main destination is the United States (19.5% of exports) and its main source is China (21.5% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States11319.5%Air
China10518.3%Air
Hong Kong69.612.1%Air
Singapore59.410.3%Air
South Korea29.85.2%Air
Japan28.14.9%Air
Thailand19.93.5%Air
Malaysia19.33.4%Air
Mexico15.62.7%Air
Vietnam14.22.5%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China77.321.5%Air
Japan45.312.6%Air
South Korea41.911.7%Air
United States38.310.7%Air
Australia14.54%Sea
Malaysia14.44%Air
Germany12.53.5%Air
Singapore102.8%Air
Saudi Arabia8.42.4%Sea
Vietnam7.92.2%Air

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Taiwan accounted for 2.5% of world exports, compared with 2.4% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 5-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 577
  • Imports 359
  • Balance +218

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$120 billion$90.2 billion$29.8 billion
1996$125.8 billion$87.2 billion$38.7 billion
1997$137.7 billion$108.7 billion$28.9 billion
1998$130.4 billion$101.4 billion$29 billion
1999$139.7 billion$111.4 billion$28.2 billion
2000$169.6 billion$137.5 billion$32.2 billion
2001$153.2 billion$105.6 billion$47.5 billion
2002$167.1 billion$110.9 billion$56.2 billion
2003$180.6 billion$129 billion$51.6 billion
2004$215.3 billion$168.1 billion$47.3 billion
2005$237.6 billion$180.9 billion$56.8 billion
2006$264.3 billion$201.5 billion$62.8 billion
2007$325 billion$215.1 billion$109.9 billion
2008$329.9 billion$239.9 billion$90 billion
2009$249.5 billion$173.8 billion$75.7 billion
2010$304.3 billion$253.3 billion$51 billion
2011$329.8 billion$289.6 billion$40.2 billion
2012$336.1 billion$288 billion$48 billion
2013$344.9 billion$289 billion$55.9 billion
2014$361.3 billion$267.9 billion$93.4 billion
2015$327.4 billion$223.2 billion$104.2 billion
2016$326 billion$225.6 billion$100.3 billion
2017$405.3 billion$262.9 billion$142.4 billion
2018$392.6 billion$277.6 billion$115 billion
2019$390.8 billion$281.1 billion$109.7 billion
2020$420.8 billion$280.5 billion$140.3 billion
2021$536.9 billion$374.5 billion$162.4 billion
2022$597.7 billion$416.8 billion$180.9 billion
2023$520.8 billion$325.8 billion$195 billion
2024$577 billion$359.2 billion$217.8 billion

World rank

Taiwan rose from 12th to 9th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 12th in 1995
  • 9th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
199512th
199612th
199712th
199812th
199912th
200011th
200113th
200212th
200312th
200412th
200513th
200613th
200713th
200814th
200913th
201013th
201115th
201214th
201315th
201414th
201513th
201612th
201710th
201813th
201913th
202010th
20219th
20229th
202311th
20249th

What it sells

Electrical and electronic equipment became its top export group: from 21% to 54%

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 11%
  • Iron and steel 1%
  • Organic chemicals 1%
  • Oil, gas and coal 2%
  • Vehicles 2%
  • Precision and medical instruments 2%
  • Plastics 3%
  • Mechanical machinery 23%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 54%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Electrical and electronic equipment21.2%53.6%
Mechanical machinery24.8%23.3%
Plastics6.7%3.3%
Precision and medical instruments2%2.3%
Vehicles3.5%1.9%
Oil, gas and coal0.18%1.7%
Organic chemicals0.91%1.5%
Iron and steel1.8%1.5%
Other39%10.9%

Who it trades with

Japan went from 20% to 8% of Taiwan's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • China 20%
  • United States 16%
  • Japan 8%
  • Hong Kong 8%
  • South Korea 8%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
China8.5%19.5%
United States23.1%16.1%
Japan20.2%7.8%
Hong Kong10.1%7.7%
South Korea3.1%7.7%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Taichung power stationPower · 26.8 Mt CO₂e
  • Datan power stationPower · 15.1 Mt CO₂e
  • China Steel Xiaogang steel plantSteel · 13.1 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Taipei$858.9 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Kaohsiung$283.1 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Taichung$213.2 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Main partners

See all countries