2016.07.0804:39:00UTC+00Taiwan June Exports Decline Less Than Expected

Taiwan's exports declined less-than-expected in June, while the fall in imports was much greater than economists had forecast, figures from the Ministry of Finance showed Friday.

Exports dropped 2.1 percent year-on-year, which was smaller than the 3.1 percent decline economists had predicted.

Shipments of electronic product parts surged 11.5 percent and those of information, communication and audio-video equipment grew 4.3 percent.

Demand for base metals and related products, machinery and plastic and rubber articles declined.

Imports plunged 10 percent, which was much worse than the 3.5 percent drop economists had expected. Among the different imported products, imports of mineral products dropped the most.

The trade surplus was US$3.58 billion in June, which was greater than the US$2 billion surplus economists had forecast.

During the first half of the year, exports decreased 9.1 percent and imports fell 10.7 percent, leading to a trade deficit of US$1.1 billion.