Taiwan exports up 10 percent in September

Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan's exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier in September to $27 billion, ending a streak of six consecutive monthly declines.

Pre-Christmas buying has turned around the slackening demand for the island's high-tech and other goods.

The Finance Ministry said Monday that Southeast Asia has shown its economic strength by buying $5.4 billion worth of Taiwanese goods in the month, up 41 percent from a year earlier. Exports to China gained 6 percent.

Imports totaled $23 billion in the month, up 1.3 percent.

For the first nine months, Taiwanese exports fell 3.9 percent from a year earlier to $224 billion.

Exports have been hurt partially by HTC Corp.

Taiwan's largest smartphone maker said Monday its July-September revenue totaled $2.4 billion, down 40 percent from the same quarter last year.