TAIPEI, April 24 -- Industrial production in Taiwan grew for the eighth month in a row in March, boosted by strong demand for electronic components, according to data released by the island's economic department on Monday.
The industrial production index in March increased at an annual rate of 3.22 percent from a year earlier to 112.87 points.
The sub-index for the manufacturing sector, which accounts for more than 90 percent of local industrial production, grew 4.7 percent from a year earlier to 115.18 in March, the 11th consecutive month of increase, buoyed by more production in chips, flat panels, integrated circuit as well as liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels, the department said.
For the first quarter, the industrial production index increased 5.14 percent from a year ago to 104.46, while the sub-index for the manufacturing sector rose 6.98 percent to 106.4.
As the global economy is recovering steadily, and new portable intelligent devices are expected to hit the market soon, Taiwan's industrial production in the second quarter is expected to further pick up, the department said.
