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TOP 10
List of Taiwan’s Top 10 Imports

Taiwan imported US$231 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2016, up by 33% since 2009 and up by 1.1% from 2015 to 2016

Taiwan’s top 10 imports accounted for three-quarters (74.5%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Taiwanese imports represent 1.4% of total global imports which totaled $16.473 trillion one year earlier in 2015.

From a continental perspective, 64.6% of Taiwan’s total imports by value in 2016 were purchased from Asian countries. North American trade partners supplied 13.4% of import sales to Taiwan while 12.6% worth of products originated from Europe. At 1.3%, African exporters accounted for a much smaller percentage of Taiwan’s overall imports.

Given Taiwan’s population of 23.5 million people, its total $231 billion in 2016 imports translates to roughly $9,800 in yearly product demand from every person in the country.

TOP 10

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Taiwan’s import purchases during 2016. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Taiwan.

  1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$58.4 billion (25.3% of total imports)
  2. Machinery including computers: $33.6 billion (14.5%)
  3. Mineral fuels including oil: $31.9 billion (13.8%)
  4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $10.3 billion (4.4%)
  5. Organic chemicals: $7.4 billion (3.2%)
  6. Vehicles: $7.3 billion (3.2%)
  7. Plastics, plastic articles: $6.5 billion (2.8%)
  8. Iron, steel: $6.4 billion (2.8%)
  9. Other chemical goods: $6 billion (2.6%)
  10. Copper: $4.3 billion (1.9%)

Fastest-growing among these top import categories over the 7-year period starting in 2009 are vehicles (up 124.8%), machinery including computers (up 77.4%), electrical machinery and equipment (up 77.4%) and optical, technical or medical apparatus (up 44.9%).

Only two product categories declined, mainly mineral fuels including oil (down -14%) as well as the imported materials iron and steel (down -3.2%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Electronics

In 2016, Taiwanese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics:

  1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$36.3 billion (up 47.7%)
  2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $4.9 billion (up 154.1%)
  3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $3 billion (up 41.1%)
  4. Printed circuits: $1.4 billion (up 91.8%)
  5. Electrical converters/power units: $1.3 billion (up 48.2%)
  6. Unrecorded sound media: $1.3 billion (down -4.2%)
  7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $1.2 billion (up 43.9%)
  8. Electrical capacitators: $1.1 billion (up 32.7%)
  9. TV/radio/radar device parts: $855.3 million (up 86.7%)
  10. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $740.1 million (up 67.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Taiwanese purchases of phone system devices including smartphones (up 154.1%), printed circuits (up 91.8%) and TV, radio and radar device parts (up 86.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Taiwanese businesses and consumers.

Fuel

In 2016, Taiwanese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

  1. Crude oil: US$12.9 billion (down -33.9%)
  2. Processed petroleum oils: $8 billion (up 25.5%)
  3. Petroleum gases: $5.7 billion (up 21.8%)
  4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $4.5 billion (down -22.1%)
  5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $624.2 million (down -4.5%)
  6. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $55.9 million (up 288.4%)
  7. Coke, semi-coke: $44.8 million (up 84.2%)
  8. Petroleum oil residues: $36.6 million (up 100%)
  9. Tar pitch, coke: $2.3 million (up 29.6%)
  10. Peat: $2 million (down -34%)

Among these import subcategories, Taiwanese purchases of petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 288.4%), petroleum oil residues (up 100%) and coke or semi-coke (up 84.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fossil fuel among Taiwanese businesses and consumers.

Machines

In 2016, Taiwanese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:

  1. Machinery for making semi-conductors: US$14.1 billion (up 140.6%)
  2. Computers, optical readers: $3 billion (up 29%)
  3. Turbo-jets: $2.7 billion (up 779.1%)
  4. Computer parts, accessories: $1.9 billion (up 33.8%)
  5. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.1 billion (down -12.2%)
  6. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $833.3 million (up 114.3%)
  7. Air or vacuum pumps: $823.6 million (up 72.6%)
  8. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $756.1 million (up 83%)
  9. Printing machinery: $556 million (up 22.4%)
  10. Temperature-change machines: $408.4 million (down -38.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Taiwanese purchases of turbo-jets (up 779.1%), machinery for making semi-conductors (up 140.6%) and centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 114.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Taiwanese businesses and consumers.

MedTech

In 2016, Taiwanese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of optical, technical and medical equipment:

  1. Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers: US$2.9 billion (up 117.3%)
  2. Other measuring/testing machines: $1.8 billion (up 144.7%)
  3. Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates: $959.8 million (down -29.2%)
  4. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $905.7 million (down -19.8%)
  5. Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays): $884.1 million (up 38.6%)
  6. Physical/chemical analysis tools: $581.2 million (up 60.4%)
  7. Lenses, prisms, mirrors: $380.5 million (up 106%)
  8. Orthopedic appliances: $311.4 million (up 86.2%)
  9. Regulate/control instruments: $255 million (up 51.4%)
  10. X-ray equipment: $253.3 million (up 95.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Taiwanese purchases of other measuring or testing machines (up 144.7%), oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers (up 117.3%) and lenses, prisms or mirrors (up 106%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported optical, technical and medical equipment among Taiwanese businesses and consumers.