Goods exports up almost 29% in August

Imports also climbed during the month..

Total export volume increased by 28.6% year on year (YoY) in August, whilst imports rose by 34.6%, according to the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

In the first eight months of 2026 (8M 2026), the volumes of total exports and imports of goods increased by 29.1% and 30.0% YoY, respectively.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods rose by 2.1% quarter on quarter, whilst imports fell by 2.1% in the three months ending August.

Export prices rose by 18.7% YoY in August and 10.1% in 8M 2026, whilst import prices increased by 18.0% YoY in August and 9.8% in 8M 2026.

The terms of trade index, which measures export prices relative to import prices, rose by 0.6% YoY in August and by 0.3% in 8M 2026.

Export volumes were highest in Vietnam, rising to 56.5%, followed by Taiwan (53.1%), the USA (41.8%), and mainland China (31.3%), while exports to India fell by 2.5%.

Export prices rose across all major destinations, led by mainland China at 21.9%, followed by Vietnam (15.8%), the USA (14.1%), India (13.1%), and Taiwan (13.0%).

Import volumes rose YoY from all major suppliers in August. Korea recorded the largest increase at 166.9%, followed by Vietnam (37.4%), mainland China (31.4%), Singapore (26.4%), and Taiwan (7.0%).

Import prices also rose across all major suppliers, with the largest increases recorded for Korea (37.9%), Taiwan (30.2%), Vietnam (20.2%), mainland China (17.4%), and Singapore (16.7%).