TAIPEI: Taiwan's exports in April fell 11.7 percent year-on-year to $23.49 billion in the third consecutive monthly decline this year due to falling demand in most major markets, the government said Friday.
Shipments to China, Taiwan's largest trade partner, decreased 13.4 percent to $5.9 billion while shipments to Europe and Southeast Asia shed 21.6 percent and 18.9 percent to $2.0 billion and $4.08 billion, respectively, the finance ministry said.
Exports of mining products were nearly halved to $940 million while plastics fell 15.8 percent to $1.82 billion. Shipments of the island's signature electronics products were also down 3.2 percent to $7.89 billion, the ministry said.
"Exports declined further in April as the pace of the global economic growth slightly slowed ... and the demands from Asian and European markets eased," it said in a statement.
Last year, Taiwan's exports rose to a record high of $313.84 billion, helped by booming demand for smartphones and other electronic products, including Apple's iPhone 6.
Taiwan's Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, is the world's largest computer components manufacturer and assembles products for leading international brands including Apple's iPhones.
But the strong export growth weakened towards the end of 2014, dipping 2.8 percent in December for the first time since the start of the year due to shrinking demand in overseas markets.
For 2014 full-year, Taiwan's export-reliant economy grew 3.74 percent, buoyed by a steady recovery in developed countries as well as improved domestic consumption, putting the island on course to enjoy its best 12 months since 2011.
The economy was estimated to grow a lower-than-expected 3.46 percent in the the first three months of the year, partly caused by weakening exports of some products.
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