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Exports jump 31.5% y/y vs +17.0% forecast in Reuters poll

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Exports to China +27.9% y/y (prior month -11.7%)

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Exports to U.S. +65.6% y/y (prior month +0.7%)

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Taiwan sees export momentum trending upwards in Q1, Q2

(Recasts, Adds details throughout)

By Faith Hung and Emily Chan

TAIPEI, March 7 (Reuters) -

Taiwan's exports rose more than expected in February as

demand for artificial intelligence related technologies got a

boost from buyers trying to get ahead of new tariffs proposed by

U.S. President Donald Trump.

Exports rose 31.5% compared to the same month a year ago

to $41.31 billion, the finance ministry said on Friday, nearly

double the 17.0% that was forecast in a Reuters poll. The

increase marked the 16th consecutive monthly rise.

Taiwan firms such as TSMC,, the

world's largest contract chipmaker, are major suppliers to Apple ( AAPL )

, Nvidia ( NVDA ) and other tech companies.

"Some customers made orders ahead of the U.S. tariff

uncertainty," the ministry said in a statement, adding business

opportunities for new applications of technologies such as

artificial intelligence (AI) remained solid.

Trump has imposed tariffs on China, Taiwan's largest

trading partner, and is considering the imposition of additional

tariffs on Taiwan's chip imports.

While the ministry said that tariffs and other

geopolitical risks present a fair amount of uncertainty for this

year, AI and its applications are accelerating, supporting

overall momentum for Taiwan's exports.

The export gains are expected to persist through the

first and second quarters, the ministry added.

It expected exports in March to fall 1% and rise 2% year

on year.

In February, Taiwan's exports to China rose 27.9%,

versus a contraction of 11.72% in the prior month.

Exports to the United States soared 65.6% year-on-year

to $11.77 billion, compared with a 0.7% jump in January.

Taiwan's total exports of electronic components climbed

24.6% in February on the year to $14.44 billion, with

semiconductor exports up 24.6%.

Imports jumped 47.8% to $34.76 billion, better than

economists' forecasts for a gain of 19.2%.