TAIPEI, April 10 -- Taiwan's exports in March rose 13.2 percent year on year, marking sixth-consecutive month of increase, according to the island's finance authority Monday.
March's exports reached 25.7 billion U.S. dollars, driven by demand for semiconductors, rising raw material prices, more trade with the mainland and a lower base last year.
For the first quarter, Taiwan's exports registered a yearly increase of 15.1 percent, the highest in almost six years.
Taiwan's exports to the mainland and Hong Kong in March expanded by 16.8 percent year on year, the ninth consecutive increase, followed by 16.4 percent growth of exports to southeast Asia and 10.6 percent to the United States.
Taiwanese exports are expected to benefit from modest expansion of the global economy and trade in 2017, the finance authority said, but uncertainties in economic policies and global politics, the transition in the mainland's economy and fierce competition might affect exports.