[News] Taiwan’s Exports to Mexico Soar 480% in January, Fueled by GPU Demand Ahead of Trump’s Tariff War

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With Trump back in the White House, the renewed tariff war has pushed companies to ramp up shipments. Notably, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance, Taiwan’s exports to Mexico soared to $2.7 billion in January, a 4.8-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, setting a record.

Beatrice Tsai, Director General of MOF’s Department of Statistics, highlighted that the main export to Mexico was graphics cards, a key component for AI development, according to a report from CNA.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s latest customs trade statistics, January exports in Taiwan totaled $38.71 billion, the second-highest for the month in history, marking a 4.4% year-on-year increase and 15 consecutive months of growth.

Another Economic Daily News report, citing Tsai, notes that the robust growth is due to steady demand for AI and high-performance computing, along with companies stockpiling in anticipation of Trump restarting the trade war.

Trump has postponed new tariffs on Canada and Mexico by one month, avoiding a trade war for now. However, China still faces a 10% tariff on its exports to the US starting last Tuesday.

In January, Taiwan’s exports to major markets showed a clear divide. According to the Ministry of Finance’s statistics, Taiwan’s exports to the U.S. reached $8.46 billion, matching the best performance for the month, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.7%. Meanwhile, exports to China and Hong Kong totaled $10.71 billion, a decrease of 11.7% year-on-year.

In addition to the strong momentum in Mexico, Taiwan’s exports to ASEAN also reached $8.28 billion, a 21.5% increase year-on-year, making it the third-highest monthly figure on record. According to CNA, exports of ICT and audiovisual products surged by 120%, with Malaysia seeing the most significant growth.

Read more

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(Photo credit: NVIDIA)