Top Taiwanese Exports & Imports

Tiny but high-tech Taiwan is a top-ten trade partner for U.S. exports & imports, notably in semiconductors & computer parts.

With a population of some 23 million, Taiwan exported US$38.2 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 9.7% from 2005 and up 19% since 2002.

Taiwanese imports from the U.S. rose 4.3% to $23 billion in 2006, up 25.3% since 2002. Taiwan is America's eight-largest supplier of imports.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with Taiwan was $15.2 billion in 2006, up 25.2% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with Taiwan increased 19.1% in 2006 – up from the 1% deficit decrease in 2005 from the year earlier.

Taiwanese Exports to U.S.

Of the $38.2 billion in American imports from Taiwan in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Semiconductors …US$4.4 billion (11.6% of Taiwanese to U.S. exports, up 19.5% from 2005)
2. Computer accessories, peripherals & parts … $4.1 billion (10.6%, down 4.8%)
3. Household products (e.g. clocks) … $2.5 billion (6.5%, up 49.5%)
4. Video equipment (e.g. televisions, DVD players) … $2.1 billion (5.6%, up 8.5%)
5. Telecommunications equipment … $1.9 billion (5.1%, up 52.5%)
6. Automotive parts & accessories … $1.6 billion (4.3%, up 4.8%)
7. Electronic apparatus & parts … $1.49 billion (3.9%, up 4.5%)
8. Advanced manufactured iron & steel … $1.47 billion (3.8%, up 1%)
9. Blank media (e.g. audio & visual tapes) … $1.4 billion (3.6%, up 0.3%)
10. Semifinished iron & steel mill products … $1.3 billion (3.4%, up 140.3%).

The above product categories represent over 58% of total Taiwanese to U.S. exports.

Fastest-Growing Taiwanese Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from Taiwan in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Gold … US$10.1 million (up 1,701% from 2005)
2. Precious metals other than gold … $36.6 million (up 959%)
3. Diamonds … $866 thousand (up 305%)
4. Rubber … $4 million (up 305%)
5. Tin … $483 thousand (up 299%).

Taiwanese Imports from U.S.

Of the $23 billion in semiconductors & computer parts in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Semiconductors …US$4.1 billion (17.9% of Taiwanese to U.S. exports, up 8.5% from 2005)
2. Other industrial machines … $2.3 billion (9.9%, up 3.6%)
3. Measuring, testing & control instruments … $1.2 billion (5.3%, up 19.6%)
4. Organic chemicals … $1 billion (4.4%, up 8.8%)
5. Civilian aircraft … $982.7 million (4.3%, down 41.1%)
6. Metalworking machine tools … $862.6 million (3.7%, up 52.3%)
7. Corn … $626.1 million (2.7%, up 8%)
8. Plastic materials … $573 million (2.5%, up 0.4%)
9. Soybeans … $527.3 million (2.3%, up 19%)
10. Computer accessories … $517.9 million (2.2%, down 0.2%).

The above product categories represent 55% of total Taiwanese imports from the U.S.

Fastest-Growing Taiwanese Imports from U.S.

Below are U.S. exports to Taiwan in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Coal … US$230 thousand (up 4,500% from 2005)
2. Nursery stock … $353 thousand (up 390%)
3. Non-farm tractors & parts … $2.5 million (up 357%)
4. Railway transportation equipment … $69.2 million (up 321%)
5. Tanks, artillery, missiles, rockets, guns & ammunition … $172.8 million (up 154%).

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

Kaohsiung Station in Taiwan

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